House Approves Bill to Give President Duterte Special Powers vs. COVID-19

The House of Representatives has approved the House Bill 6616 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” in their special session on March 23, 2020.

House Bill 6616 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” aims to authorize President Rodrigo Duterte to create a national policy to address the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The bill will grant the president powers such as:

• Adopting and implementing measures to prevent or minimize further transmission and spread of COVID-19.
• Expedite medical testing and observation of PUIs and PUMs, and the immediate treatment of patients suffering from COVID-19.
• Ensure that all Local Government Units (LGUs) are acting in line with the rules, regulations and directives issued by the National Government and are implementing standards of community quarantine that the National Government has laid down while allowing LGUs to continue exercising their autonomy in matters undefined by the National Government.

*See full the FULL TEXT of HB 6616 here

HB 6616 seeks to hasten the mitigation of the COVID-19 outbreak; propel the distribution of essential needs of affected Filipinos; provide health care, etc.

The bill garnered 284 affirmative votes, 9 negative votes, and no abstention in the lower house.

House Bill 6616 was authored by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Deputy Speakers Paolo Duterte and Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr., and House appropriations committee chair Eric Go Yap. (ASC)