EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
)
20
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
)
First Regular Session
)
RuCc'i'j'
20 Kif\R 23 A'10'-13
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 1413
Introduced by SENATORS VICENTE C. SOTTO III and PIA S.
CAYETANO
AN ACT
TO DECLARE THE EXISTENCE OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY 
ARISING FROM THE CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19) SITUATION 
AND A NATIONAL POLICY IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AND 
AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE 
PHILIPPINES FOR A LIMITED PERIOD AND SUBJECT TO 
RESTRICTIONS, TO EXERCISE POWERS NECESSARY AND PROPER 
TO CARRY OUT THE DECLARED NATIONAL POLICY AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Strangely empty streets. From one empty shelf to another in 
supermarkets. Closed shops. Factory closures. Curfews being impiemented. 
Military and medicai personnei are manning checkpoints. Ciass suspensions. 
Peopie are staying at home. People are working from home. Sociaiizing is 
restricted. Uncertainty and fear among peopie dominate. These are the "new 
normal" as the COVID-19 disease has been declared a public heaith 
emergency of internationai concern.


Currently, there are 308,594 COVID-19 cases and 13,069 deaths 
related to COVID-19 have been recorded all over the world1. Locally, there 
are 380 COVID-19 cases and 35 related deaths, as of 22 March 20202. These 
figures are very far from the Department of Health data three weeks ago - 
with just five (5) cases on 5 March 20203.
When local transmission has been discovered and the confirmed cases 
that day reached 204, President Rodrigo Duterte, in the evening of 9 March 
2020, formally declared a state of public health emergency in the Phiiippines 
through Proclamation No. 9225 in order to mobilize governmentai and 
nongovernmental agencies to respond to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Just three (3) days after the deciaration of a state of public health 
emergency in the Philippines, or on 12 March 2020, President Duterte 
announced the partial lockdown, otherwise known as the "community 
quarantine," of Metro Maniia beginning at 12 midnight on 15 March 2020 
untii 14 April 2020. The said community quarantine suspended land, 
domestic air and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila to further 
control the spread of the virus. With the partiai iockdown. President Duterte 
likewise ordered the banning of mass gatherings; suspension of work in the 
Executive Department, but with skeietal workforces; the Department of
1 https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
2 https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/3/22/coronavirus-surge-in-cases-higher-death-toll-Philippines- 
March-22.html
3 https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/728576/philippines-records-2-more-covid-19-cases/story/ 
'' https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/728946/philippines-confirms-10-new-covid-19-cases-total- 
now-20/story/
5 https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2020/03mar/20200308-PROC-922-RRD.pdf


Labor and Employment to encourage a flexible work arrangements in the 
private sector; and the Department of Transportation to issue guidelines on 
social distancing in public transportation, among others. On this day also, 
there are 52 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, and mostly are 
confined and residing in Metro Manila.
Despite the continuing government efforts and interventions, the 
confirmed COVID-19 cases almost tripled even after the declaration of a 
state of public health emergency was made. Thus, to better combat the 
continuing spread of the virus, on 16 March 2020, another proclamation was 
made by President Duterte - which is Proclamation No. 9296. This time the 
eariier community quarantine now covers the whole of Luzon, and is now 
termed as "enhanced community quarantine." The Luzon-wide quarantine 
mandates strict home quarantine, suspension of public transpiration, travei 
restrictions, work-from-home arrangements, and ciosure of non-essential 
shops and businesses.
Moreover, by virtue of Proclamation No. 929, the President declared a 
State of Calamity in the whole Philippines for a period of six (6) months, 
unless earlier lifted. Such deciaration wiii, among others, afford the national 
government as well as LCDs (local government units), ample latitude to 
utilize appropriate funds, including the Quick Response Fund, in their disaster 
preparedness and response efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and 
to continue to provide basic services to the affected popuiation.
1 https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2020/03mar/20200316-PROC-929-RRD.pdf


Due to the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine, 
many Filipinos have been negatively affected by it financially - particularly 
those in the informal sector who are on a "no work, no pay" basis, which 
include janitors, drivers, and construction workers who were and still are not 
able to report to work; those public utility and TNVS drivers whose work was 
suspended; and those street and market vendors whose micro businesses 
were stopped. These people are mostly belonging to the poor or low income 
group.
The COVID-19 disease has greatly affected everyone's lives - 
regardless of age, gender, and status. It started out as isolated in China 
hence was not taken seriously by many. And back then, the possibility of it 
reaching to our shores and to other countries is thought to be far-fetched. 
Fast forward to today, and we all know someone who knows someone who 
has or had COVID-19. Now, we are all fearing for ourselves and for our 
families.
In view of the foregoing, the government must work together to 
protect the people - both from the COVID-19 disease and the financial 
impact of the government interventions currently in place. Different times 
call for different measures. A whole-of-government approach must be done.
Article VI, Section 23 (2) of the 1987 Constitution states that:


"In times of war or other national emergency, the Congress 
may, by law, authorize the President, for a limited period and 
subject to such restrictions as it may prescribe, to exercise 
powers necessary and proper to carry out a declared national 
policy. Unless sooner withdrawn by resolution of the Congress, 
such powers shall cease upon the next adjournment thereof."
Thus, this proposed measure seeks to allow the President to freely 
move funds from both the National Government and the Government-owned 
and Controlled Corporations to generate funds for the Emergency Subsidy 
Program to ensure that the 18 million low income households in the 
Philippines have enough provisions during the lockdown. Moreover, the 
President is given the authority to purchase, in the most expeditious manner, 
goods that are necessary for the protection of frontline health workers, 
laboratory and medical equipment, medical supplies, tools, medicines, and 
testing kits, among others, that shall ensure the immediate detection and 
treatment of COVID-19 patients.
This measure shall also allow the President to lower the effective 
lending rates of interest and reserve requirements of lending institutions in 
order to ensure the availability of credits to the productive sectors of the 
economy. Furthermore, the President is authorized to 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 Community


Quarantine. Such other powers that have been exercised by the President 
during the period of community quarantine are laid down in this proposed 
bill.
In order to ensure that there will be no abuse in the exercise of the 
abovementioned powers, this bill has provided safeguards, such as the limit 
of time when the powers shall be exercised, the reportoriai requirement, the 
creation of a Congressional Oversight Committee, and the authority given to 
the Congress to withdraw such powers granted under this measure anytime.
Through this proposed Act we can win this fight. And through this, we 
will heal as one.
The virus that brought COVID-19 is spreading fast; hence, the 
government must likewise act fast.
Thus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
VICENTE C. SOTTO III
PIA S. CAY^ANO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. B. NO. 1413
of ujf g’ccretiVi'p
20 MAR 23 A10 :13
Rt:Cci\;-’D 3V;
Introduced by SENATORS VICENTE C. SOTTO III and PIA S.
CAYETANO
AN ACT
TO DECLARE THE EXISTENCE OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY 
ARISING FROM THE CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19) 
SITUATION AND A NATIONAL POLICY IN CONNECTION 
THEREWITH, AND AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES FOR A LIMITED PERIOD AND 
SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS, TO EXERCISE POWERS 
NECESSARY AND PROPER TO CARRY OUT THE DECLARED 
NATIONAL POLICY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Phiiippines in Congress assembied:
Section 1. Short Tide. -This Act shall be known and cited as " We 
Heai As One Act."
3 
Section 2. State of Nationai Emergency. - Presidential
4 
Proclamation No. 922, s. 2020, was issued declaring a State of Public
5 
Health Emergency throughout the Philippines due to the Coronavirus
6 
Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the Code Alert System for COVID-19 was
7 
raised to Code Red Sublevel Two (2) in accordance with the
8 
recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-
9 
Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
10 
Further, Presidential Proclamation No. 929, s. 2020, was issued declaring
11 
a State of Calamity throughout the Philippines and imposed an Enhanced
12 
Community Quarantine throughout Luzon.


1
2
3
4
5
In view of the continuing rise of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the 
serious threat to the health, safety, security, and lives of our countrymen, 
the long-term adverse effects on their means of livelihood, and the severe 
disruption of economic activities, a state of national emergency is hereby 
declared over the entire country.
6
7
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
Section 3. Declaration of Policy. - The COVID-19 pandemic has 
greatly affected nations worldwide, including the Philippines, and has 
caused and is continuing to cause loss of lives and disruption to the 
economy. Thus, there is an urgent need to: (1) minimize, if not prevent, 
further transmission and spread of COVID-19; (2) immediately mobilize 
assistance in the provision of basic necessities to families and individuals 
affected by the imposition of Community Quarantine, especially indigents 
and their families; (3) undertake measures that will prevent the 
overburdening of the healthcare system; (4) immediately and amply 
provide healthcare, including medical tests and treatments, to COVID-19 
patients, persons under investigation (PUI), or persons under monitoring 
(PUM); (5) undertake a program for recovery and rehabilitation, including 
a social amelioration program and provision of safety nets to all affected 
sectors; (6) ensure that there is sufficient, adequate and readily available 
funding to undertake the foregoing; and (7) 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 implement the aforementioned policy, it is imperative 
to grant him authority subject to such limitations as hereinafter provided.
25 
Section 4. Authorized Powers. - Pursuant to Article VI, Section
26 
23 (2) of the Constitution, and to implement the declared national policy,
27 
the President is hereby authorized to issue such rules, regulations and
28 
directives as may be necessary to carry out any or all of the following
29 
powers:
30
31
32
33
34
35
(1) Adopt and implement measures to prevent or minimize further 
transmission and spread of COVID-19;
(2) Expedite the medical testing and observation of PUIs and PUMs 
and the immediate treatment of patients suffering from COVID- 
19;


1
2 
(3) Ensure that all Local Government Units (LGUs) are acting in line
3 
with the rules, regulations and directives issued by the National
4 
Government pursuant to this Act; are impiementing standards of
5 
community quarantine consistent with what the Nationai
6 
Government has iaid down for the subject area, while allowing
7 
LGUs to continue exercising their autonomy in matters undefined
8 
by the National Government or are within the parameters it has
9 
set; and are fuiiy cooperating towards a unified, cohesive and
10 
orderly implementation of the national policy to address COVID-
11 
19;
12 
(4) When the public interest so requires, direct the operation of any
13 
privately-owned hospitals and medical and health facilities,
14 
including other establishments to house health workers, serve as
15 
quarantine areas, quarantine centers, medical relief and aid
16 
distribution locations, or other temporary medical facilities; and
17 
public transportation to ferry health, emergency, and frontline
18 
personnel and other persons; Provided, however. That the
19 
management and operation of the foregoing enterprises shall be
20 
retained by the owners of the enterprise, who shall render a full
21 
accounting to the President or his duly authorized representative
22 
of the operations of the utility or business as basis for appropriate
23 
compensation; Provided, further. That reasonable compensation
24 
for any additional damage or costs incurred by the owner or the
25 
possessor of the subject property solely on account of complying
26 
with the directive shall be given to the person entitled to the
27 
possession of such private properties or businesses after the
28 
situation has stabilized or at the soonest time practicable;
29 
Provided, finally, that if the foregoing enterprises unjustifiably
30 
refuse or signified that they are no longer capable of operating
31 
their enterprises for the purpose stated herein, the President may
32 
take over their operations subject to the limits and safeguards
33 
enshrined in the Constitution;
34 
(5) Continue to adopt measures to protect the people from hoarding,
35 
profiteering, injurious speculations, manipulation of prices,
36 
product deceptions, and cartels, monopolies or other combinations


1
2
3
4
5
6 
7
in restraint of trade, or other pernicious practices affecting the 
suppiy, distribution and movement of food, clothing, 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;
8 
(6) Undertake the procurement of the following as the need arises, in
9 
the most expeditious manner, as exemptions from the provisions
10 
of Republic Act No. 9184 and other relevant laws:
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
(a) 
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.
(b) 
Goods and services for social amelioration measures in favour 
of affected communities;
27
28 
29
(c)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;
30
31
(d) Establishment, construction, and operation of temporary medical 
facilities; and


1 
(e) Utilities, telecommunications, and other critical services in
2 
relation to operation of quarantine centers, medical relief and aid
3 
distribution centers and temporary medical facilities;
4 
(f) Ancillary services related to the foregoing.
5 
(7) Ensure the availability of credit to the productive sectors of the
6 
economy especially in the countryside through measures such as,
7 
but not limited to, lowering the effective lending rates of interest
8 
and reserve requirements of lending institutions;
9 
(8) Liberalize the grant of incentives for the manufacture or
10 
importation of critical or needed equipment or supplies for the
11 
carrying-out of the policy declared herein, including healthcare
12 
equipment and supplies;
13 
(9) Require businesses to prioritize and accept contracts, subject to
14 
fair and reasonable terms, for materials and services necessary to
15 
promote the herein declared national policy;
16 
(lO)Regulate and limit the operation of all sectors of transportation
17 
through land, sea or air, whether private or public;
18 
(11)Regulate traffic on all roads, streets, and bridges, and access
19 
thereto; prohibit putting up of encroachments or obstacles;
20 
authorize the removal of encroachments and illegal constructions
21 
in public places; and perform all other related acts;
22 
(12)Continue to authorize alternative working arrangements for
23 
employees and workers in the Executive Branch, and whenever it
24 
becomes necessary, in other independent branches of government
25 
and constitutional bodies, and the private sector;
26 
(13)Conserve and regulate the distribution and use of power, fuel,
27 
energy and water, and ensure adequate supply of the same;
28 
(14)Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, direct the cancellation of
29 
appropriated programs, projects or activities (P/A/P) of any agency


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
of the Executive Department, including government-owned or - 
controlled corporations (GOCC), in the FYs 2019 and 2020 General 
Appropriations Act (GAA), and utilize the savings generated 
therefrom to augment the allocation for any item for support 
operations, response measures, and other such P/A/P in the FY 
2020 GAA as the President may deem necessary, beneficial or 
desirable in order to address the COVID-19 emergency, consistent 
with the herein declared national policy;
9 
(15)Any unutilized or unreleased balance in a special purpose fund, as
10 
of the date of declaration of State of Emergency, shall be
11 
considered to have their purpose abandoned for the duration of
12 
the State of Emergency. All such unspent, unutilized or
13 
unreleased money or funds sourced from collections or receipts,
14 
including future collections and receipts, shall be utilized and are
15 
hereby appropriated for such measures to address the COVID-19
16 
situation and accomplish the declared national policy herein;
17 
(16)Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, reprogram, reallocate,
18 
and realign any appropriation in the FY 2020 GAA for whatever
19 
purpose the President may deem necessary and desirable to fund
20 
measures to address and respond to the COVID-19 emergency,
21 
including social amelioration for affected communities, and the
22 
recovery and rehabilitation of areas where the emergency is
23 
subsiding. All amounts so reprogrammed, reallocated or realigned
24 
shall be deemed automatically appropriated for such measures to
25 
address the COVID-19 situation;
26 
(17)Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the President is hereby
27 
authorized to allocate cash, funds, investments, including
28 
unutilized or unreleased subsidies and transfers, held by any GOCC
29 
or any national government agency for whatever purpose the
30 
President may deem necessary and desirable in order to address
31 
the COVID-19 emergency;
32 
(18)Move statutory deadlines and timelines for the filing and
33 
submission of any document, the payment of taxes, fees, and
34 
other charges required by law, and the grant of any benefit, in


1 
order to ease the burden on individuals under Community
2 
Quarantine;
3 
(19)Undertake such other measures as may be reasonable and
4 
necessary to enable the President to carry out the declared
5 
national policy subject to the Bill of Rights and other constitutional
6 
guarantees.
7 
Section 5. Reports to Congress and Creation of an
8 
Oversight Committee. - The President, during Monday of every week,
9 
shall submit a weekly report to Congress of all acts performed pursuant
10 
to this Act during the immediately preceding week.
11 
For this purpose, the Congress shall establish a Joint Congressional
12 
Oversight Committee composed of four (4) members of each house to be
13 
appointed by the Senate President and the House Speaker, respectively.
14 
This Committee shall determine whether such acts, orders, rules and
15 
regulations are within the restrictions provide herein. This Committee can
16 
override any acts, orders, rules and regulations determined to be
17 
exercised in excess of the restrictions provided herein.
18 
Section 6. Penalties. - Any violation of the rules, regulations and
19 
directives of the National Government issued pursuant hereto, shall be
20 
punishable with imprisonment of two (2) months or a fine of not less than
21 
Ten Thousand Pesos but not more than One Million Pesos, or both such
22 
imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court, without prejudice to
23 
prosecution under other applicable laws with heavier penalties: Provided,
24 
however. That if the offender is a corporation, association, partnership or
25 
any other juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the
26 
president, directors, managers, managing partners, as the case may be,
27 
who participated in the commission of the offense or who shall have
28 
knowingly permitted or failed to prevent the commission of the same. If
29 
the offender is an alien, he shall, in addition to the penalties herein
30 
prescribed, be deported without further proceedings; Provided, further,
31 
that if the offender is a public official or employee, he shall. In addition to
32 
the penalties prescribed herein, suffer perpetual or temporary absolute
33 
disqualification from office, as the case may be.


1 
Section 7. Construction or Interpretation. - Nothing in this Act
2 
shaii be construed or interpreted as a restriction of the Biii of Rights or of
3 
the Constitution. In case the exercise of the powers herein granted
4 
conflicts with other iaws, this Act shaii prevaii.
5 
Section 8. Separability. - If any provision of this Act or the
6 
appiication of such provision to any person or circumstance is deciared
7 
invaiid, the remainder of this Act or the appiication of such provision to
8 
any other person or circumstances shaii not be affected by such
9 
deciaration.
10 
Section 9. Effectivity. - This Act shaii take effect immediateiy upon
11 
its pubiication in a newspaper of generai circuiation or in the Officiai
12 
Gazette and shaii be in fuii force and effect oniy for two (2) months or
13 
ionger if the caiamity wiii persist, as may be determined by the President,
14 
without prejudice to the powers that the President may continue to
15 
exercise under the Constitution or other iaws. Provided, that the powers
16 
granted under this Act may be withdrawn sooner by means of a
17 
concurrent resoiution of Congress or ended by Presidentiai Prociamation.
18 
Provided, further, that the impiementation of aii P/A/Ps that were
19 
canceiied pursuant to this Act may resume any time after the effectivity
20 
of this Act, notwithstanding provisions of iaw to the contrary.
Approved,