Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 6692

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Representatives CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE,
FERDINAND R. GAITE and EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT,
ACT TEACHERS Party-List Representative FRANCE L. CASTRO,
GABRIELA Women’s Party Representative ARLENE D. BROSAS-
and KABATAAN Party-List Representative SARAH JANE I. ELAGO

AN ACT
EXTENDING THE GRANT OF SOCIAL AMELIORATION PROGRAM DURING
‘THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Bill seeks to continue the grant of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to provide relief to the individuals and families in areas
all over the country affected by the continued implementation of the general community
quarantine (GCQ).

Preently, there is a global effort to prevent the spread of the infection of Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) wherein some countries adopted stringent measures such as community quarantines
and lockdowns.

In the Philippines, it was only on March 16, 2020 when President Rodrigo Roa Duterte declared
a state of calamity due to COVID-19, Considering the unpreparedness of the country’s health
sector due to numerous budget cuts throughout the past and present administrations, the late
declaration of a health emergency, despite the on-going health crisis in the other parts of the world,
further put the Filipinos at even bigger risk. Worse, with millions of Filipinos living below the
familiy living wage, millions, too, were left with no savings and no source of income when the
different levels of community quarantine were implemented.

‘The Luzon-wide quarantine was initially set to end on April 30, 2020, but it was further extended
through Executive Order No. 112, series of 2020 until May 15, 2020, in the form of an enhanced
community quarantine (ECQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ).

Based on the recommendations of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging
Infectious Disease ([AFT-MEID), the following high-risk geographic areas in the Philippines will
be under an ECQ:


. National Capital Region;

. Region II (Central Luzon), except Aurora Province;
Region IV-A (CALABARZON)

Benguet Province;

Pangasinan Province;

Iloilo Province;

Cebu Province;

. Bacolod City; and

Davao City.

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‘Meanwhile, other parts of the Philippines not under an ECQ will be put under a GCQ.

‘The Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine laid down protocols
to be observed under the community quarantine such as compliance to minimum health standards
set by the Department of Health (DOH), strict home quarantine for any person aged below 21
years old, and 60 years old and above, and skeletal work force on establishments allowed to
operate. According to the guidelines, the following establishments are not allowed to operate under
the GCQ implementation:

Amusement, gaming and fitness establishments
. Category IV industries as defined by the Department of Trade and Industry
Hotels or similar establishment not allowed to operate

Schools conducting physical classes

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During the enhanced community quarantine, the Philippine government rolled out the SAP, which
comprises of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and Expanded and
Enhanced Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the DSWD, Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa
Ating Displaced /Disadvantaged Workers Program (TUPAD) #Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko (TUPAD
#BKBK) Disinfecting/Sanitation Project and COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program
(CAMP) of the DOLE, and Rice Farmers Financial Assistance of the DA. ‘The program provides
economic assistance worth P5,000 —P8,000 to qualified beneficiaries, estimated to cover 18 Million
houscholds, whose livelihood were affected and have no means of income during the community
quarantine.

However, even after the ECQ, the social and economic reality remains true to Filipinos especially
to the employees of the establishments and industries that are not allowed to operate under the
GCQ. For this reason, it is necessary to continue the implementation of SAP to the affected
individuals and families.

‘Thus, immediate approval of this Bill is earnestly sought.

Approved,


REP. Rad BAK ‘T. ZARATE
Bayan Muna Partylist

REP. R. GAITE REP. EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT
Bayan Muna Partylist Bayan Muna Partylist

REP. Fi ICE L. CASTRO
ACT Teachers Partylist ‘GABRIEL{A Women’s Party

REP. SARAH JANE I. ELAGO
Kabataan Partylist


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 8692

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Representatives CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE,
FERDINAND R. GAITE and EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT,
ACT TEACHERS Party-List Representative FRANCE L. CASTRO,
‘GABRIELA Women’s Party Representative ARLENE D. BROSAS
and KABATAAN Party-List Representative SARAH JANE I. ELAGO’

AN ACT
EXTENDING THE SOCIAL AMELIORATION PROGRAM DURING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDs THEREOF

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of the Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as “Social Amelioration During General
Commuity Quarantine Act of 2020 .”

SECTION 2. Statement of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to free the people from poverty
through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard
of living, and an improved quality of life for all , Under a national health emergency crisis where
the health of the people takes precedence, the State must also adopt measure to provide economic
relief to the individuals and families affected from the strict implementation of mitigating
measures.

SECTION 3. Scope. ~ The Social Amelioration Program of the Department of Social Welfare
and Development, Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Agriculture,
hereinafter referred to as the Program, is hereby extended for the entire duration of the
implementation of the general community quarantine.

SECTION 4. Coverage. — The COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of
Emerging Infectious Disease will determine the low-risk and moderate risk areas of the Philippines
where the general community quarantine is being implemented.

SECTION 5. Beneficiaries. — The beneficiaries of this Program are the affected individuals
employed on the following industries and establishments that are not to operate under the general
community quarantine:

Amusement, gaming and fitness establishments
Category IV industries as defined by the Department of Trade and Industry
Hotels or similar establishment not allowed to operate

|. Schools conducting physical classes, and;

Other similarly-situated industries and establishments.

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SECTION 7. Appropriation. — ‘The source of the amount necessary for the implementation of
this Act shall be determined by the Department of Finance, in coordination with the Department
of Budget and Management.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the
remainder of any provision hereof not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, and other presidential
issuances which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,