EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE
S. B. No. lRfi4
r>:
20 J'JN P4 55
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(In Substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 1414, 1417, 1426, 1431, 1449, 1474, 1542, 
1546,1558 and 1561, taking into consideration P.S. Resolution No. 409)
Prepared by the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means, Economic Affairs, and 
Health and Demography with Senators Marcos, Angara, Recto, Sotto, Zubiri and
Cayetano as authors thereof.
AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE 
PHILIPPINES TO EXERCISE NECESSARY POWERS TO CARRY 
OUT THE DECLARED NATIONAL POLICY TO RESPOND TO 
CRISIS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE 2019 CORONAVIRUS 
DISEASE (COVID-19) PANDEMIC AND PROVIDING MECHANISM 
TO ACCELERATE THE RECOVERY AND BOLSTER THE 
RESILIENCY OF THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY, PROVIDING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SEC. 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known and cited as “Bayanihan to 
Recover As One Act”.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and 
independence of the nation and free the people from poverty, particularly in the 
aftermath of natural and man-made disasters, through policies that provide adequate 
social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved


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quality of life for all. Towards this end, and in cognizance of the adverse impact of the
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2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic to the Philippine economy and
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society, the state shall likewise establish mechanisms to achieve the following
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(a) Reduce the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the socioeconomic well­
being of Filipinos through the provision of assistance, subsidies and 
other forms of socioeconomic relief;
(b) Sustain efforts to test, trace, isolate and treat COVID-19 cases to 
mitigate the transmission of the disease and prevent further loss of 
lives;
(c) Enhance the capacity of the Philippine health care system to eliminate, 
prevent and control disease outbreaks and pandemics and mitigate the 
effects of other health or life threatening concerns by ensuring 
budgetary support for healthcare;
(d) Mitigate the economic cost and losses stemming from the COVID-19 
pandemic;
(e) Restore public trust and confidence on social and economic institutions;
(f) Accelerate the recovery and bolster the resilience of the Philippine 
economy through measures grounded on economic inclusivity and 
collective growth;
(g) Accommodate alternative modes of transportation, including a network 
of bicycle lanes in all roads in every city and municipality, for the people 
who may opt to use the bicycle as an alternative mode of transportation 
to address health, environment, and traffic concerns; and
(h) Promote and protect the collective interests of all Filipinos in these 
challenging times.
By reason thereof, and in order to optimize the efforts of the
President to carry out the tasks needed to realize the aforementioned
objectives, the President is authorized to exercise the powers granted to
him under Section 3, subject to the limitations herein provided.
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SEC. 3. Authorized Powers. -The President is hereby authorized to exercise
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the following powers that are necessary and proper to carry out the declared national
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policy to respond to crisis brought about by the pandemic:


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(a) Following World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and best practices,
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adopt and implement measures to prevent or suppress further transmission
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and spread of COVID-19 through effective education, detection, protection,
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and treatment; PROVIDED, That massive testing for COVID-19 shall be
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conducted immediately in areas in the country where higher possibility of
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transmission of COVID-19 may occur or have occurred. The Department of
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Health (DOH) shall adopt a COVID-19 disease surveillance protocol that shall
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define minimum health standards for workplaces and business activities which
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shall include COVID-19 testing and contact tracing: PROVIDED, FURTHER,
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That the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall identify
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and prioritize the areas and business activities critically impacted and severely
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affected by COVID-19 and with high probability of COVID-19 transmission,
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and coordinate with the relevant Local Government Units (LGUs) and
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government agencies for the implementation of the COVID-19 surveillance
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protocol, testing kits shall be distributed to DOH-accredited government
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hospitals that can perform testing. The DILG, in coordination with the LGUs
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and other government agencies, shall distribute the testing kits to DOH-
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accredited government hospitals that can perform testing;
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(b) Expedite and streamline the accreditation of polymerase chain reaction testing
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kits and facilitate prompt testing by public and designated private institutions of
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suspected and probable COVID-19 cases and those with no symptoms but
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with relevant travel history or contact with a confirmed, suspected or probable
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case and the compulsory and immediate isolation and treatment of confirmed,
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suspected and probable COVID-19 patients: PROVIDED, That the cost of
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treatment for COVID-19 patients shall be covered under the National Health
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Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
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(PhilHealth); PROVIDED, FURTHER, That in addition to testing, isolation and
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treatment of these patients, the contacts of these patients shall also be
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immediately and properly traced;
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(c) Adopt a protocol on the conduct of Baseline Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Testing (Baseline PCR Testing) for COVID-19. For this purpose, the Inter-
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Agency Task Force (lATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious
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Diseases, in full cooperation with the DOH, the DILG, the Department of Labor
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and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and
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the Bureau of Immigration (Bl), shall ensure the following:


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(i) Adequate number of COVID-19 testing centers that provide available, 
affordable and accessible testing to the public, subject to reimbursement 
by PhilHealth under existing guidelines: PROVIDED, that people in 
geographically isolated or highly populated and depressed areas shall be 
provided the same level of access to COVID-19 testing;
(ii) Hiring of skilled medical technologists, molecular biologists, and other 
skilled laboratory technicians to conduct COVID-19 testing to achieve an 
ideal personnel-to-laboratory ratio taking into consideration DOH targets; 
and
(iii) Procurement and distribution of supplies for COVID-19 PCR testing based 
on, among others, the current levels and projections of the following:
(1) number of patients and healthcare workers with severe or critical 
symptoms and history of travel or exposure; and
(2) number of patients and healthcare workers with mild symptoms, 
relevant history of travel or exposure, and considered vulnerable: 
PROVIDED, that LGUs may implement their own procurement, 
distribution and monitoring program consistent with the overall 
provisions of this Act and the guidelines of the DOH.
(d) Provide an emergency subsidy to around eighteen (18) million low income 
households under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECO): PROVIDED, 
That the subsidy shall amount to a minimum of Five Thousand Pesos 
(P5,000.00) to a maximum of Eight Thousand Pesos (P8,000.00) a month 
for two (2) months: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the subsidy shall be 
computed based on the prevailing regional minimum wage rates: 
PROVIDED, FINALLY, That the subsidy received from the current 
conditional cash transfer program and rice subsidy shall be taken into 
consideration in the computation of the emergency subsidy as provided for 
in this Act;
(e) Provide wage subsidies to critically-impacted displaced workers including 
probationary, project, seasonal, contractual and casual employees, 
freelancers, the self-employed and repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers 
(OFWs) including OFWs whose deployment were suspended due to a 
government-imposed deployment ban: PROVIDED, That the amount of 
wage amelioration shall be equivalent to One Hundred percent (100%) of 
the applicable minimum wage rate for a maximum of two (2) months: 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the workers have been directly impacted by


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the COVID-19 pandemic, such as those in the tourism, construction,
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creative industry including but not limited to film and audiovisual workers,
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public transportation and trade industries, private basic education schools
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and higher education institutions, and those that support priority programs
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of the government: PROVIDED FURTHERMORE, That any assistance
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given to OFWs shall- be separate and distinct from the benefits or
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assistance, if any, they receive as members of the Overseas Workers
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Welfare Administration (OWWA); PROVIDED, FURTHERMORE, that the
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Social Security System (SSS) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
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shall also provide free registration for freelancers to promote their
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integration into the formal economy; PROVIDED, FINALLY, that any
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subsidy previously received under Republic Act No. 11469 does not
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preclude the worker from receiving the wage amelioration provided herein.
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(f) Ensure that repatriated and returning displaced OFWs have access to
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livelihood assistance, skills and training programs, loan assistance, and
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employment opportunities to ensure the proper reintegration of these OFWs,
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and the full utilization of their skills for national development;
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(g) Ensure that all public health workers are protected by providing them with a
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“COViD-19 special risk allowance”, in addition to the hazard pay granted
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under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers or Republic Act No. 7305
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(h) Direct the Philhealth to shoulder all medical expenses of public and private
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health workers in case of exposure to COVID-19 or any work-related injury
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or disease during the duration of the pandemic;
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(i) Provide compensation of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PI 00,000.00) to
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public and private health workers who have contracted or who may contract
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severe COVID-19 infection while in the line of duty: PROVIDED, FURTHER,
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That a compensation of One Million Pesos (PI ,000,000.00) shall be given to
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public and private health workers, who have died or may die while fighting
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the COVID-19 pandemic: PROVIDED, FINALLY, That this shall have
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retroactive application from February 1, 2020;
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(j) Provide the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries the opportunity to enhanced
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access to credit facilities after the disruption of the food supply chain by the
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COVID-19 pandemic. The payment of unpaid principal, interests, penalties,
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and surcharges of loans used for land acquisition to any and all government
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agencies and Government-Owned and - Controlled Corporations (GOCCs),
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including the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) shall be condoned;


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(k) The pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 10931 or otherwise known as 
the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,” Republic Act No. 
8545 or otherwise known as the “Expanded Government Assistance to 
Students and Teachers in Private Education Act” or the “E-GASTPE Act,” 
and Republic Act No. 10533 or otherwise known as the “Enhanced Basic 
Education Act of 2013” or the “K to 12 Law,” to the contrary notwithstanding, 
provide tuition subsidy to students who are currently not receiving any 
assistance from government educational subsidy or voucher programs but 
are now facing financial difficulties brought about by work stoppage and 
closure of establishments due to the community quarantine as follows:
(i) Qualified students in Private Tertiary Education who are neither part 
of the Listahanan of the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DSWD) nor covered under the Tertiary Education 
Subsidy (TES) as provided in Republic Act No. 10931 shall receive a 
tuition subsidy in the amount of Eight Thousand Pesos (P 8,000.00) 
per student: PROVIDED, that the geographic prioritization of areas 
where there are no State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and 
Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) under Republic Act No. 
10931 shall be suspended to make qualified students under this 
subsection eligible; and
(ii) Qualified students in private elementary and junior high school, and 
senior high school who are currently not receiving assistance under 
the Education Service Contracting (ESC) as provided in Republic Act 
No. 8545, or Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP) as 
provided in Republic Act No. 10533, as may be applicable, shall 
receive a tuition subsidy in the amount of Three Thousand Pesos (P 
3,000.00) per student.
Education subsidies granted under this subsection shall be released 
directly to the Private Tertiary Education institutions or Private Basic 
Education Schools, respectively, for the purpose of applying the subsidy 
for unpaid tuition in School Year 2019-2020 or for payment of tuition fee 
for school year 2020-2021: PROVIDED, that the subsidy shall be released 
prior to the opening of School Year 2020-2021 or within a reasonable 
period after school opening but in no case later than September 2020, in a 
manner similar to the TES, ESC, and SHS VP.


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(l) Provide a one-time cash assistance to affected and displaced teaching and 
non-teaching personnel, including part-time faculty, in Private Basic 
Education Schools and Tertiary Education Institutions and part-time faculty 
in SUCs due to the deferred opening or reduced offering of classes during 
the community quarantine: PROVIDED, that the subsidy shall amount to a 
minimum of Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000) up to a maximum of Eight 
Thousand Pesos (P8,000) computed based on the prevailing regional 
minimum \A/age rates;
(m) Ensure that all LGUs are acting within the letter and spirit of all the rules, 
regulations and directives issued by the National Government pursuant to 
this Act; are implementing standards of Community Quarantine (CQ) 
consistent with what the National Government has laid down for the subject 
area, while allowing LGUs to continue exercising their autonomy in matters 
undefined by the National Government or are within the parameters it has 
set; and are fully cooperating towards a unified, cohesive and orderly 
implementation of the national policy to address COVID-19: PROVIDED, 
That all LGUs shall be authorized to utilize more than five percent (5%) of 
the amount allocated for their calamity fund subject to additional funding 
and support from the National Government;
(n) Continue to enforce measures to protect the people from hoarding, 
profiteering, injurious speculations, manipulation of prices, product 
deceptions, and cartels, monopolies or other combinations in restraint of 
trade, or other pernicious practices affecting the supply, distribution and 
movement of food, clothing, hygiene and sanitation products, medicine and 
medical supplies, fuel, fertilizers, chemicals, building materials, implements, 
machinery equipment and spare parts required in agriculture, industry and 
other essential services, and other articles of prime necessity, whether 
imported or locally produced or manufactured;
(o) Ensure that donation, acceptance and distribution of health products 
intended to address the COVID-19 pandemic are not unnecessarily delayed 
and that health products for donation duly certified by the regulatory agency 
or their accredited third party from countries with established regulation shall 
automatically be cleared: PROVIDED, That this shall not apply to health 
products which do not require a certification or clearance from the Food and 
Drug Administration (FDA);


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(p) Undertake the procurement of the following as the need arises, in the most
expeditious manner, as exemptions from the provisions of Republic Act No.
9184 or the “Government Procurement Reform Act” and other relevant laws;
(1) Goods, which may include personal protective equipment such as 
gloves, gowns, masks, goggles, face shields; surgical equipment and 
supplies: laboratory equipment and its reagents; medical equipment 
and devices; support and maintenance for laboratory and medical 
equipment, surgical equipment and supplies; medical supplies, tools, 
and consumables such as alcohol, sanitizers, tissue, thermometers, 
hand soap, detergent, sodium hydrochloride, cleaning materials, 
povidone iodine, common medicines (e.g., paracetamol tablet and 
suspension, mefenamic acid, vitamins tablet and suspension, hyoscine 
tablet and suspension, oral rehydration solution, and cetirizine tablet 
and suspension); testing kits, and such other supplies or equipment as 
may be determined by the DOH and other relevant government 
agencies: PROVIDED, That the DOH shall prioritize the allocation and 
distribution of the aforesaid goods, supplies and other resources to the 
following:
i. Public health facilities in the regions, provinces, or cities, that are 
designated as COVID-19 referral hospitals, such as, but not 
limited to, Philippine General Hospital (PGH), Lung Center of the 
Philippines (LCP), and Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital;
ii. Private hospitals which have existing capacities to provide 
support care and treatment to COVID-19 patients; and
iii. Public and private laboratories that have existing capacities to 
test suspected COVID-19 patients;
(2) Goods and services for social amelioration measures in favor of 
affected communities;
(3) Lease of real property or venue for use to house health workers or 
serve as quarantine centers, medical relief and aid distribution 
locations, or temporary medical facilities;
(4) Establishment, construction, and operation of temporary medical 
facilities;
(5) Utilities, telecommunications, and other critical services in relation to 
operation of quarantine centers, medical relief and aid distribution 
centers and temporary medical facilities; and


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(6) Ancillary services related to the foregoing.
(q) Partner with the Philippine Red Cross, as the primary humanitarian agency 
that is auxiliary to the government in giving aid to the people, subject to 
reimbursement, in the distribution of goods and services incidental in the 
fight against COVID-19;
(r) Engage temporary Human Resources for Health (HRH) such as medical and 
allied medical staff to complement or supplement the current health 
workforce or to man the temporary medical facilities to be established in 
accordance with Section 3 p(4) of this Act: PROVIDED, That HRH to be 
hired on temporary basis shall receive the appropriate compensation and 
allowances; PROVIDED, FURTHER, That all HRH serving in the front line 
during the state of calamity due to COVID-19, shall receive an actual hazard 
duty pay from the government: PROVIDED, FINALLY, That DOH, the DOLE 
and its attached agencies shall closely coordinate to ensure that returning 
OFW-health care workers, or those whose deployments were suspended 
due to COVID-19, shall be properly referred to the ongoing hiring of 
temporary HRH by DOH;
(s) Ensure the availability of credit to the productive sectors of the economy 
especially in the countryside through measures such as, but not limited to, 
lowering the effective lending rates of interest and reserve requirements of 
lending institutions; PROVIDED, That credit accommodation to the Micro, 
small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as those who are self- 
employed, shall be imposed a low interest, payable within three (3) years 
and shall not require any collateral if the loan does not exceed Three Million 
Pesos (P 3,000,000.00): PROVIDED, FURTHER, That loans extended to 
corporations or enterprises in the transportation, tourism, manufacturing, 
export-oriented and agricultural sectors, which are not MSMEs, shall be 
concessional and payable within three (3) to six (6) years;
(t) Direct the appropriate government financial institutions to develop a loan 
program for institutions of learning that have been affected by the decrease 
in enrollment due to the community quarantine or to enable these institutions 
to adequately prepare to implement blended learning: PROVIDED, That the 
terms of the loan shall be more reasonable than the prevailing market terms; 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the availment of such loan shall be 
conditioned on the non-implementation of an increase in tuition and other 
fees for the next school or academic year;


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(u) Direct the Small Business Corporation (SBC) to expand its existing loan 
programs for MSMEs through a combination of increasing available loanable 
funds, reducing eligibility requirements, increasing maximum loan amounts 
per borrower, reducing interest rates, extending loan terms, utilization of 
financial technologies to expand reach and increase access and set fast 
turn-around loan processing time; and allow the use of the loan proceeds for 
payroll costs, materials and suppliers, mortgage payments, rent, utilities, 
including fuel and storage, creation of new supportive businesses, re­
purposing of existing business capital, any other business debt obligations 
that were incurred before the covered period or acquisition of new 
technologies and systems to adjust business processes for resiliency;
(v) Direct the LBP and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to 
introduce a low interest loan program available to non-essential businesses 
to assist and encourage them to continue investing in their businesses; 
PROVIDED, That priority shall be given to agri-fishery businesses and non- 
essential businesses that are small and medium enterprises, including start­
ups;
(w) Direct the Philippine Guarantee Corporation (PhilGuarantee) to issue an 
expanded government guarantee program for non-essential businesses, to 
ease current rules and regulations and give preference to critically-impacted 
businesses, MSMEs, and activities that support DOH initiatives towards 
ensuring an adequate and responsive supply of health care services, and to 
guarantee the loan portfolio of partner financial institutions of eligible MSME 
loans.
(x) Liberalize the grant of incentives for the manufacture or importation of critical 
or needed equipment or supplies for the carrying-out of the policy declared 
herein, including healthcare equipment and supplies: PROVIDED, That 
importation of these equipment and supplies shall be exempt from import 
duties, taxes and other fees;
(y) Ensure the availability of essential goods, in particular food and medicine, by 
adopting measures as may reasonably be necessary to facilitate and/or 
minimize disruption to the supply chain, especially for basic commodities and 
services to the maximum extent possible;
(z) Require businesses to prioritize and accept contracts, subject to fair and 
reasonable terms, for materials and services necessary to promote the 
herein declared national policy;
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(aa) Direct the Department of Agriculture (DA) to provide extension support, 
financial subsidies or other forms of assistance to qualified agri-fishery 
enterprises, farmers, fisherfolk, and other agricultural workers;
(bb) Direct the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and such other 
agencies or instrumentalities that may be authorized under this act and its 
implementing rules and regulations (IRR), to extend the following assistance 
to critically impacted businesses in the transportation industry:
a. Grant emergency credit lines for purposes of funding operations;
b. Grant low interest loans or long-term credit facility to allow the 
restructuring of existing debts and assist in rehabilitation;
c. Provide credit guarantee schemes to guarantee bank loans and credit 
lines;
d. Provide grants for applicable regulatory fees;
e. Allow substitution of refund option to travel vouchers;
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Provide grants for fuel subsidy, as may be necessary; and
g. Provide grants for training, equipment, facilities, test kits and necessary 
personnel, on coping with increased health risks arising from infectious 
diseases.
Within fifteen (15) days from the effectivity of this act, the DOTr 
or any of its instrumentalities shall prescribe the eligibility requirements and 
other terms and conditions for any of the above-mentioned assistance, 
subject to the guidelines issued under this section.
For purposes of item (d) herein, the grants may include 
reductions in (i) rates through the removal of value-added tax (vat) and 
local taxes as may be applicable, and (ii) fees and charges imposed by any 
regulatory agency and LGU. Such grants shall be payable, respectively, to 
the BIR, the relevant regulatory agencies and LGUs: provided, that, the 
grant shall be chargeable against the fund created for the purpose of 
implementing this section. Provided, further, that any critically impacted 
business may avail of the grant for a period of not more than six (6) 
months.
For purposes of item (b) and (c) herein, the DOTr or any of its 
instrumentalities shall utilize the loan and/or loan guarantee programs and 
other loan related measures provided under this act, subject to the rules, 
regulations and guidelines issued under the corresponding intervention:
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provided, that, loan interventions implemented under this section shall be
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exclusively for critically impacted business in the transportation industry
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only.
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Availment of any economic relief such as wage subsidy, loan, and
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loan guarantees and other relief under the other provisions of this act, does
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not disqualify such critically impacted businesses belonging to the
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transportation industry from availing the economic relief provided under this
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section.
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The DOTr shall give preference to business entities that shall
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require assistance for any activity that supports the Balik Probinsya,
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Bagong Pag-asa Program under Executive Order (E.O.) No. TI4 series of
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2020.
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(cc) Direct the Department of Tourism (DOT) to assist critically impacted
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businesses that are tourism enterprises, in any of the following programs:
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a. Low interest loans or issuance of loan guarantees with terms of up to
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five (5) years for maintenance and operating expenses;
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b. Credit facilities for upgrading, rehabilitation, or modernization of current
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establishments or facilities to be compliant with new health and safety
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standards;
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c. Marketing and product development promotions and programs;
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d. Grants for education, training, and advising of tourism stakeholder for
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the new normal alternative livelihood programs;
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e. Utilization of information technology for the improvement of tourism
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services, development of a tourist tracking system for emergency
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response, and establishment of spatial database to improve planning
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capacity; and
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f. Any other relevant programs, including infrastructure, necessary to
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mitigate the economic effects of COVID-19 on the tourism industry.
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For purposes of items (a) and (b) herein, government financial
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institutions such as the LBP and DBP shall administer the loans for DOT
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but subject to guidelines from the DOT that shall be prepared for these
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purposes: PROVIDED, That the loan interventions implemented under this
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Section shall be exclusively for accredited tourism enterprises only.
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Availment of grants, loans or loan guarantees through other 
provisions of this Act is not a disqualification for any tourism enterprise to 
avail of any economic relief measures in this Section.
The DOT shall prefer establishments that support the (1) Balik 
Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program under E.O. No. 114, series of 2020, 
and (2) initiatives of the DOH towards ensuring an adequate and 
responsive supply of health care services.
(dd) Direct the Department of Information and Communications Technology 
(DICT) to accelerate the deployment of critical Information and 
Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure, equipment, software, and 
wireless technologies throughout the country to address the need for digital 
connectivity, internet speed and stability, and Cybersecurity in E-Commerce, 
E-Government, online learning, and telecommuting during the CCVID-19 
pandemic;
(ee) Regulate and limit the operation of all sectors of transportation through 
land, sea or air, whether private or public and provide the necessary 
infrastructure and support, including emergency pathways and pop-up bike 
lanes, for commuters, particularly health workers and other frontliners;
(ff) Regulate traffic on all roads, streets, and bridges, and access thereto; 
prohibit putting up of encroachments or obstacles; authorize the removal of 
encroachments and illegal constructions in public places; and perform all 
other related acts;
(gg) Continue to authorize alternative working arrangements for employees 
and workers in the Executive Branch, and whenever it becomes necessary, 
in other independent branches of government and constitutional bodies, and 
the private sector;
(hh) Conserve and regulate the distribution and use of power, fuel, energy 
and water, and ensure adequate supply of the same;
(ii) Ensure the proper management and segregation of waste, especially of 
hazardous materials coming from health facilities, in the communities and 
households in order to contain the CCVID-19 virus and other diseases;
(jj) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, direct the discontinuance of 
appropriated programs, projects or activities (P/A/P) of any agency of the 
Executive Department, including GCCCs, in the FYs 2019 and 2020 General 
Appropriations Act (GAA), whether released or unreleased, the allotments 
for which remain unobligated, and utilize the savings generated therefrom to
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augment the allocation for any item directly related to support operations and 
response measures, which are necessary or beneficial in order to address 
the COVID-19 pandemic, consistent with the herein declared national policy: 
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the following items in the budget shall be 
prioritized for augmentation;
(1) Under the DOH - operational budgets of government hospitals, 
primarily those identified for treatment of COVID-19; prevention and 
control of other infectious diseases; emergency preparedness and 
response; quick response fund;
(2) Under the University of the Philippines - the operational budget of the 
PGH;
(3) The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund or 
calamity fund;
(4) Programs of the DOLE, such as, but not limited to, Tulong 
Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers 
(TUPAD), COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) and the 
DOLE Abot-kamay ng Pagtulong (AKAP) for OFWs: PROVIDED, That 
in giving assistance under these programs, priority shall be given to 
those workers who have not been granted assistance under any of the 
programs of the government for workers;
(5) Under the DTI - Livelihood Seeding Program and Negosyo Serbisyo sa 
Barangay;
(6) Under the DA - Rice Farmers Financial Assistance Program;
(7) Under the Department of Education (DepEd) - School-Based Feeding 
Program;
(8) Under various DSWD programs, such as but not limited to Assistance 
to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AlCS), distribution of food and non­
food items, livelihood assistance grants, and supplemental feeding 
program for daycare children;
(9) Under Allocations to Local Government Units;
(10) 
Quick Response Funds (QRF) lodged in the various relevant 
departments, such as, but not limited to the DOH and DSWD.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act, the discontinued 
program, activity or project may be revived at any time after the COVID- 
19 pandemic has ceased, and notwithstanding Section 67 of Republic
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Act No. 11465 or the “General Appropriations Act of 2020”, may be 
revived and proposed for funding within the next two (2) fiscal years;
(kk) Any unutilized or unreleased balance in a special purpose fund, as of 
March 2020 declaring a public health crisis of national concern, shall be 
considered to have their purpose abandoned for the duration of the health 
crisis. All such unspent, unutilized or unreleased money or funds sourced 
from collections or receipts, including future collections and receipts, shall be 
utilized and are hereby appropriated for such measures to address the 
COVID-19 situation and accomplish the declared national policy herein;
(II) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, reprogram, reallocate, and realign 
from savings on other items of appropriations in the FY 2020 GAA in the 
Executive Department, as may be necessary and beneficial to fund 
measures that address and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including 
social amelioration for affected communities and the recovery of areas, 
sectors and industries severely affected. All amounts so reprogrammed, 
reallocated or realigned shall be deemed automatically appropriated for such 
measures to address the COVID-19 situation within the period specified 
under Section 9 hereof;
(mm) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the President is hereby 
authorized to allocate cash, funds, investments, including unutilized or 
unreleased subsidies and transfers, held by any GOCC or any national 
government agency in order to address the COVID-19 pandemic, as 
declared in Section 2 hereof.
(nn) Move statutory deadlines and timelines for the filing and submission of 
any document, the payment of taxes, fees, and other charges required by 
law, and the grant of any benefit, in order to ease the burden on individuals 
under CQ;
(oo) Direct all banks, quasi-banks, financing companies, lending companies, 
utility companies, real estate developers, insurance companies providing life 
insurance policies, pre-need companies, and other financial institutions, 
public and private, including the GSIS, the SSS and Pag-ibig Fund, to 
implement a minimum of a thirty (30)-day grace period for the payment of all 
loans, including but not limited to salary, personal, housing, and motor 
vehicle loans, amortizations and premium payments, as well as credit card 
and utility payments, falling due within the period of the ECQ or Modified 
Enhanced Community (MECQ) in cities, provinces, or regions declared by
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the proper authorities without incurring interests, interest on interest,
2 
penalties, fees, or other charges: Provided, That persons with multiple loans
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shall be given the minimum thirty (30)-day grace period for every loan:
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Provided, further that after the grace period, payment of unpaid consumer
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loans shall be deferred to the end of the loan term, without incurring interest
6 
on interests, penalties, fees or other charges, thereby extending the maturity
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of the said loans to a period equal to the period of community quarantine:
8 
Provided, finally that unpaid credit card and utility bills shall be settled on
9 
staggered basis without interests, penalties and other charges until
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September 30, 2020.
11 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, That in addition to the provided grace
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period, banks, other Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFis) under the
13 
supervision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and lending and
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financing companies under the supervision of the Securities and Exchange
15 
Commission (SEC), are encouraged to extend the terms of or agree to the
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restructuring of existing (i) consumer loans of employees of non-essential
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businesses during the CQ, (ii) commercial loans of non-essential
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businesses, or to fund activities or investments therein, during the CQ, and
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(iii) local government loans, under any or all of the following conditions:
20 
(1)The payment dates of the consumer loans, commercial, and local
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government loans referred herein, or any part thereof, are due
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anytime between March 16, 2020 and December 31,2020;
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(2) The loan term may be extended for a period up to one (1) year, which
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may be further extended for a maximum of another one (1) year; and
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(3) Only the principal payments may be suspended in case of
26 
moratorium;
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PROVIDED, FINALLY, that the banks and other NBFIs that agree
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to further loan term extensions or restructuring pursuant to this section shall
29 
be entitled to regulatory relief, as may be determined by the BSP, which may
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include, but not limited to, (i) Staggered booking of allowances credit losses,
31 
(ii) Exemption from loan-loss provisioning, (iii) Exemption, when applicable,
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from the limits on real estate loans, and (iv) Exemption from related party
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transaction restrictions.
34 
(pp) Direct all institutions providing electric, water, telecommunications, and
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other similar utilities to implement a minimum of thirty (30)-day grace period
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for the payment of utilities falling due within the period of ECO or MECQ
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without incurring interests, penalties, and other charges: PROVIDED, That 
after the grace period, unpaid utility bills shall be settled on a staggered 
basis without interests, penalties, and other charges: PROVIDED, 
FURTHER, That covered institutions under this sub-section may offer less 
onerous payment terms, with the consent of their clients;
(qq) Provide for a minimum of thirty (30)-day grace period on residential 
rents falling due within the period of the community quarantine, without 
incurring interests, penalties, fees, and other charges: PROVIDED, That all 
amounts due within the period of community quarantine shall be amortized in 
equal monthly installments until December 31, 2020 without any interest, 
penalties and other charges: PROVIDED FURTHER, That no increase in 
rent shall be imposed during the same period;
(rr) Implement an expanded and enhanced Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino 
Program (4Ps), responsive to the needs posed by the crisis, and provision of 
an assistance program, whether in cash or non-cash, whichever is more 
practicable, where the Secretary of DSWD, or the Secretary of DOLE, when 
relevant, shall transfer cash, cash vouchers, or goods through the LGUs or 
directly to households who have no incomes or savings to draw from, 
including households working in the informal economy and those who are 
not currently recipients of the current 4Ps, of an amount adequate to restore 
capacity to purchase basic food and other essential items after the duration 
of the quarantine. To carry out this subsection, the Secretary of the DSWD 
and the Secretary of the DOLE may approve the temporary emergency 
standards of eligibility and level of benefits.
(ss) Lift the Thirty percent (30%) cap on the amount appropriated for the 
QRF, as provided for in Republic Act No. 10121 or the “Philippine Disaster 
Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010”, during the existence of the 
COVID-19 pandemic;
(tt) Provide assistance to the agriculture industry by creating the “Plant, Plant, 
Plant” Program which shall be composed of the following: (1) Alpas Kontra 
sa COVID-19; (2) food markets - food logistics and other interventions; and 
(3) cash for work program in agriculture;
(liu) Direct the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development 
(DHSUD) and its key shelter agencies to: (1) fast track the approval of all 
pending and new applications for housing loans, permits and licenses by 
simplifying the requirements and procedure; (2) accommodate and prioritize
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critically impacted home buyers who may want to shift from private bank 
financing to PAG-IBIG home financing with simplified requirements; (3) 
extend the compliance to the balanced housing requirement to be co­
terminus with period for the completion of the main project; (4) waive and 
desist from imposing fines and penalties to avoid unnecessary pecuniary 
burdens and avoid delay in the delivery of housing units to home buyers.
(vv) Direct the BSP to allow private banks and financial institutions to; (1) 
reallocate any unutilized loanable funds to housing loans; and (2) to grant 
subsidy to the home loan borrowers at the rate equivalent to the gross 
receipt tax imposed on banks and financial institutions on their interest 
income. In turn, the banks and financial institutions shall likewise be 
exempted from the payment of the gross receipts tax on the discounted 
interests paid by the home loan borrowers.
(ww) Encourage BSP and the SEC to adopt measures, including the 
relaxation of regulatory and statutory restrictions and requirements for a 
period of not more than ten (10) years from their date of effectivity to 
encourage the banking industry and other financial institutions to extend 
loans and other forms of financial accommodation to help business recover 
from the economic effects of COVID-19 crisis and to enable the banking 
industry to manage appropriately its risks and potential losses.
The BSP and the SEC are likewise hereby authorized to grant 
reporting relief to its supervised entities by allowing staggered booking of 
allowance for credit losses for all types of credit accommodations extended 
to individuals and business entities affected by COVID-19.
(xx) Direct all government agencies and LGUs to approve, within an 
inextendible period of five (5) working days, all pending and new applications 
for permit, license, certificate, clearance, authorization and resolutions, in 
order to support business continuity and encourage resumption of all 
economic activities. PROVIDED, That the applicant shall be allowed to 
undertake its compliance to any additional requirement that may be imposed 
by the government agency or LGU, and such will not delay the approval of 
the application;
(yy) The DOTr is directed to produce a masterlist of all displaced and 
critically-impacted transport workers under the road, rail, air and maritime 
sectors to effectively implement the distribution of wage subsidies and cash-
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for-work program, as provided for in Section 3 (e) and Section 4 (b),
2 
respectively:
3 
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the DOTr is directed to coordinate the
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accelerated distribution of remaining subsidy under the Social Amelioration
5 
Program of Bayanihan I to driver beneficiaries so as not to coincide and
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confuse with the subsidy provided in this Act:
7 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the DOTr is likewise tasked to work
8 
with financial institutions in looking at the possible restructuring of existing
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loans without penalty and the provision of credit lines and low interest loans
10 
to help critically-impacted transport service providers:
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PROVIDED, FURTHER, the DOTr is also directed to coordinate with
12 
transport service providers and LGUs to negotiate service contracting of
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public utility vehicles as a form of temporary livelihood to workers displaced
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by restrictions and reduced capacity of public transportation, and other forms
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of arrangement to ensure that livelihood in the transport sector is preserved:
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PROVIDED, FINALLY, that there shall be no phaseout, at the
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national and local level, of any modality of public utility vehicle as the
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industry transitions to a new normal.
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(zz) 
The DepEd is directed to continue providing access to free, healthy
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meals to undernourished children as mandated by Republic Act No. 11037
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regardless of modality of learning to be adopted by the Department.
22 
(aaa) Provide regulatory relief to the critically-impacted creative sector by
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tasking the DTI and the DILG to review the imposition of the amusement tax.
24 
The President of the Philippines shall have the power to suspend, reduce or
25 
waive the imposition of the fees and charges as recommended by the DTI
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and DILG for a period of six (6) months.
27 
(bbb) 
Direct the DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and
28 
the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in
29 
partnership with government financial institutions, to provide loan assistance,
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subsidies, discounts or grants to schools, universities, colleges, technical
31 
vocational institutions, teachers, faculties, and students for the purchase of
32 
distance learning tools, such as computers, laptops, tablets and other ICT
33 
devices and equipment necessary to conduct and access classes and
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learning materials under alternative delivery modes of teaching and learning
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in the new normal: PROVIDED, That the loan shall be payable within five (5)
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years and in all cases has terms that are more reasonable than that of tlie 
prevailing in the market;
(ccc) Direct government financial institutions to extend the term of standby 
loans entered into by LGUs;
(ddd) Utilize the funding as provided in Section 4 of this Act;
(eee) Undertake such other measures as may be reasonable and necessary 
to enable the President to carry out the declared national policy subject to 
the Bill of Rights and other constitutional guarantees.
SEC. 4. Funding. In addition to the funds that will be raised under Section 3 
(jj). (ld<), (II) and (mm) of this Act, a Two Hundred Thirty-Six Billion 
(P236,000,000,000) standby fund shall be appropriated and shall be used to support 
operation and response measure to address the COVID-19 pandemic and the 
following:
a. 
Twenty Five Billion Pesos (P25,000,000,000) for the implementation of 
cash-for-work program and the TUPAD, such as, but not limited to 
temporary hiring of contract tracers, data encoders, and other personnel 
as may be necessary in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and 
for emergency subsidy to worker in critically-impacted sectors and 
industries;
b. 
Fifty Billion Pesos (P50,000,000,000) for the infusion of capital to 
government financial institutions to be allocated as follows:
i. 
Five Billion Pesos (P5,000,000,000) for the Credit Guarantee 
Program of the PhilGuarantee;
ii. 
Thirty Billion Pesos (P30,000,000,000) to support wholesale 
banking and equity infusion of the LBP for low interest loans to be 
extended to persons and entities engaged in industries affected 
by the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to, air, land 
and sea transportation, retail trade, accommodation and tourism 
services and micro, small and medium enterprises; and
iii. 
Fifteen Billion Pesos (P15,000,000,000) to support wholesale 
banking and equity infusion of the DBP for low interest loans to be 
extended to persons and entities engaged in industries affected 
by the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to, air, land 
and sea transportation, retail trade, accommodation and tourism 
services and MSMEs;
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c. 
Thirty Billion Pesos (P30,000,000,000) for the procurement of PCR 
testing and extraction kits, supplies, materials, and reagents to be used 
for the conduct of COVID-19 testing and for the enhancement of 
capacities of the DOH in the provision of healthcare services and the 
implementation of programs and projects to eliminate, prevent and 
control diseases other than COVID-19;
d. 
Fifty Biliion Pesos (P50,000,000,000) to support various programs and 
projects for public and private health workers, displaced OFWs, 
displaced employees and workers in the formal and informal economy; 
displaced teaching and non-teaching personnel in public and private 
educationai institutions; employees and workers in the public transport 
sector; displaced workers in the tourism industry; and other critically- 
impacted sectors as may be identified by the lATF for the Management 
of Emerging Infectious Diseases;
e. 
Forty Six Billion Pesos (P46,000,000,000) to the Department of 
Agriculture to provide direct cash assistance, interest-free loans, and 
other forms of assistance to qualified agri-fishery enterprises and 
farmers and fisherfolk registered under the Registry System for Basic 
Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and to finance the Plant, Plant, Plant 
Program to ensure food security and continuous productivity in the 
agricultural sector;
f. 
Twenty Five Billion Pesos (P25,000,000,000) to finance the programs of 
the DOTr to assist the critically impacted businesses in the 
transportation industry; and
g. 
Ten Billion Pesos (PI0,000,000,000) to finance the programs of the 
DOT to assist the critically impacted businesses in the tourism industry.
PROVIDED, That the amounts authorized herein may only be used
when any of the following exists:
(a) Excess revenue collection in any one of the identified tax or non­
tax revenue sources from its corresponding revenue collection 
target, as provided in the FY 2020 Budget of Expenditures and 
Sources of Financing (BESF);
(b) New revenue collections or those arising from new tax or non-tax 
sources which are not part of nor included in the original sources 
included in the FY 2020 BESF; and
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(c) Proceeds from approved loans for programs and projects in this
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Act:
3 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the DBM shall submit reports on the
4 
releases made pursuant to this Section as part of the weekly report as
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mandated in this Act.
6 
SEC. 5. Reports to Congress and Creation of an Oversight Committee. -
7 
The President, during Monday of every week, shall submit a weekly report to
8 
Congress of all acts performed pursuant to this Act during the immediately preceding
9 
week including a status report on government programs, strategies, plans, and efforts 
;lo relative to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report shall likewise include the amount and 
:li corresponding utilization of the funds used, augmented, reprogrammed, reallocated
12 
and realigned pursuant to this Act, as well as relevant and more granulated health-
13 
related data, and such other information which Congress may require.
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For this purpose, the Congress shall establish a Joint Congressional
15 
Oversight Committee composed of four (4) members of each house to be appointed
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by the Senate President and the House Speaker, respectively. This Committee shall
17 
determine whether such acts, orders, rules and regulations are within the restrictions
18 
provided herein.
19 
SEC. 6. Construction or Interpretation. - Nothing herein shall be construed as
20 
an impairment, restriction or modification of the provisions of the Constitution. In case
21 
the exercise of the powers herein granted conflicts with other statutes, orders, rules
22 
or regulations, the provisions of this Act shall prevail.
23 
SEC. 7. Separability. - If any provision of this Act or the application of such
24 
provision to any person or circumstance is declared invalid, the remainder of this Act
25 
or the application of such provision to any other person or circumstance shall not be
26 
affected by such declaration.
27 
SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately after the end of
28 
the effectivity of R.A. 11469, or otherwise known as the “Bayanihan to Fleal as One
29 
Act” provided that it has been published in a newspaper of general circulation or in
30 
the Official Gazette and shall be in full force and effect until September 30, 2020,
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unless extended by Congress; PROVIDED, That the powers granted under tfils Act
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may be withdrawn sooner by means of a concurrent resolution of Congress or ended 
by Presidential Proclamation.
iA Approved,
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