Bayanihan Law Effective Until June 25: Palace

The expiration of the Republic Act (RA) 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act is on June 25, Malacañang said on Saturday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said a provision of RA 11469 clearly states that the law will end on June 25.

“We maintain that the effectivity of the Bayanihan act is governed by sunset clause of the law. It is effective until June 25, 2020,” Roque said.

Section 9 of RA 11569 provides that the Bayanihan Act takes effect immediately “upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation or in the Official Gazette” and is in full force and effect “only for three months unless extended by Congress.”

RA 11469 was inked by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 24 but was only published in newspapers on March 25 or a day after it was signed into law.

Roque’s statement came after some have claimed that the effectivity of the law ceased on June 5.

The Bayanihan law gives Duterte temporary special powers to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Malacañang earlier sought the extension of Duterte’s emergency powers to allow his administration to further boost its fight against the Covid-19 crisis.

The Senate on Wednesday approved on second reading Senate Bill (SB) 1546, which extends Duterte’s special powers until Sept. 30, 2020, to give him the authority to continue his government’s programs aimed at addressing the pandemic.

Senators, however, failed to pass the measure on third and final reading when the first regular session of the 18th Congress ended on Thursday.

The lack of certification of urgency from Duterte prohibited the Senate from passing SB 1546 immediately on third and final reading.

With the certification of urgency, lawmakers need now wait for the three-day period between the second and third readings before a bill gets passed.

In the House of Representatives, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez filed House Bill 6811, a similar measure that seeks the extension of Duterte’s special powers for another three months.

The House of Representatives committee of the whole on Wednesday approved the substitute bill extending Duterte’s emergency powers.

Lawmakers will open their second regular session on July 26, but Malacañang has expressed confidence that they will hold a special session during their mandatory recess to discuss the bill extending the temporary special powers granted to Duterte amid the Covid-19 pandemic. (PNA)