REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6952

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F.
VILLAFUERTE, JR., FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ, HON. MICHAEL T.
DEFENSOR, HON. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

The country's road to effective recovery from COVID-19 and return to normalcy
without fear require the realization of the following objectives: (1.) the development of
an efficient and strong mechanism to prevent and control the outbreak, and (2.) the
implementation of mechanisms that protect the collective interest of all Filipinos
through various forms of assistance and reliefs.

The staggering effects of COVID-19 on human life and the economy that we are
seeing are unlike anything that our generation has ever experienced. Globally, the
unemployment figures projected by the International Labor Organization (ILO) is 25
million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 with loss of labor income amounting to as much as
$3.4 Trillion. Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS)
estimates that the Philippines could suffer a 12.9% contraction of its economy.

However, the reactivation of disrupted economic activities and reemployment of
displaced workforces cannot simply be done without the confidence and full trust of
the public in the measures in place. It is for this very reason that this bill is designed
to supplement Republic Act No. 11469, otherwise known as the “Bayanihan to Heal
as One Act’, by aggressively pursuing its efforts to contain the transmission of
COVID 19 and simultaneously making available various reliefs to all Filipinos as the
economy starts to open up.

Among others, this bill proposes to undertake COVID-19 response and recovery
interventions that follow the best practices and guidelines of the World Health
Organization. This includes the testing of a percentage of the population that will be
expedited by a streamlined accreditation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing
kits by public and designated private institutions.

Further, this measure proposes the appropriation of One Hundred Fifty Seven Billion
Pesos (PhP 157,000,000,000.00) as standby fund for support operations and
response measures to address COVID 19. This includes Twelve Billion Pesos (PhP.


12,000,000,000.00) for the procurement of PCR testing and extraction kits for the
enhancement of the capacities of the DOH. Other allocations are dedicated in
support of socieconomic reliefs such as Emergency Subsidy to Workers, Cash For
Work Programs, Prevention and Control of Other Diseases, Capital Infusion to
Government Banks, Support Programs for Impacted Sectors, Support to Agricultural
Sector.

This proposal rides on the optimism and resiliency of the Filipino Spirit ensuring that
every Filipino life is important.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

HON. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO


aus

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No,_ 6952

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F.
VILLAFUERTE, JR., FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ, HON. MICHAEL
T. DEFENSOR, HON. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT

PROVIDING FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE AND RECOVERY
INTERVENTIONS 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:

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


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adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and
an improved quality of life for all. Towards this end, and in cognizance of the
adverse impact of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic to the

Philippine economy and society, the State shall likewise establish mechanisms to
achieve the following objectives:

(a) Reduce the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the socioeconomic well-
being of all Filipinos through the provision of assistance, subsidies and
other forms of socioeconomic relief;

(b) Consolidate, update, and validate existing records, through the DSWD.
in coordination with the IATF and the Philippine Statistics Authority
including Local Government Units, to come up with a comprehensive,
up to date, and unified database to effectively implement the provision
of socioeconomic relief intended for all Filipinos by properly identifying
the recipients thereof;

(c) Sustain efforts to test, trace, isolate and treat COVID-19 cases to
mitigate the transmission of the disease and prevent further loss of
lives;

(d) 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;

(e) Mitigate the economic cost and losses stemming from the COVID-19
pandemic;

(f) Restore public trust and confidence on social and economic institutions;

(g) Accelerate the recovery and bolster the resilience of the Philippine
economy through measures grounded on economic inclusivity and
collective growth;

(h) 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;


(i) Promote and protect the collective interests of all Filipinos in these
challenging times;

(j) Optimize the use of science, technology and innovation in government's
response measures; and

(k) enhance public trust in science and incorporate the use of scientific
research and technological expertise in policy-making process.

SEC. 3. COVID-19 Response and Recovery Interventions. - The following

shall be undertaken and implemented as COVID-19 response and recovery
interventions:

(a) Following World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and best
practices, adoption and implementation of measures to prevent or
suppress further transmission and spread of COVID-19 through
effective education, detection, protection, and treatment: PROVIDED,
That the percentage of the population that will undergo COVID-19
testing shall be in accordance with WHO standards and global
benchmark, in areas identified by the Department of Health (DOH) and
the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as epicenters
of COVID-19 infections and in other areas where higher possibility of
transmission of COVID-19 may occur or have occurred. The DOH shall
adopt a COVID-19 disease surveillance protocol that shall define
minimum health standards for workplaces and business activities which
shall include COVID-19 testing and the establishment of a contact
tracing system including personal contact tracing whereby a person
maintains a record of the places that he/she had been to and the people
he/she had contact with: PROVIDED, That any individual who tested
positive for COVID-19 through laboratory confirmation at the national
reference laboratory, sub-national reference laboratory, or a DOH
certified laboratory testing facility shall be automatically treated and if
necessary, isolated in a DOH quarantine and isolation facility:
PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the Inter-Agency Task Force for the


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Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) shall identify
and prioritize the areas and business activities critically impacted and
severely affected by COVID-19 and with high probability of COVID-19
transmission, and coordinate with the relevant Local Government Units
(LGUs) and government agencies for the implementation of the COVID-
19 surveillance protocol. PROVIDED, FINALLY, That The DILG, in
coordination with the LGUs and other government agencies, shall
distribute the testing kits to DOH-accredited government hospitals that
can perform testing;

(b) Implementation of an expedited and streamlined accreditation of
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing kits and facilitation of prompt
testing by public and designated private institutions of suspected and
probable COVID-19 cases and those with no symptoms but with
relevant travel history, or may have been exposed due to the nature of
their work or due to their living conditions or had contact with a
confirmed, suspected or probable case, and the compulsory and
immediate isolation and treatment of confirmed, suspected and
probable COVID-19 patients: PROVIDED, That the cost of testing and
treatment for COVID-19 patients shall be covered under the National
Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation (PhilHealth): PROVIDED, FURTHER, That in addition to
testing, isolation and treatment of these patients, the contacts of these
patients shall also be immediately and properly traced through the use
of efficient technology for data collection and analysis, and by engaging
contact tracers from the existing network of barangay health workers,
parent-leaders from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps),
and members of duly accredited Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) by
the respective national government agency;

(c) Adoption of a protocol on the conduct of PCR testing for COVID-19. For
this purpose, the IATF-EID, in full cooperation with the DOH, the DILG,
the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of


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Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Bureau of Immigration (BI), shall

ensure the following:

(1) 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;

(2) 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

(3) Procurement and distribution of supplies for COVID-19 PCR testing
based on, among others, the current levels and projections of the
following:

(i) number of patients and healthcare workers with severe or
critical symptoms and history of travel or exposure; and

(ii) 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) Delivery of uninterrupted immunization program against vaccine

preventable diseases especially on children amidst the COVID-19
pandemic;

(e) Adoption by the DOH of a uniform and consistent reporting standard in

a language understandable by the general public;

(f) Provision of an emergency subsidy to all affected Filipinos in need of

emergency subsidy, such as all low income families, households with
recently returned Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs): no-work-no-pay


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individuals such as freelancers and self-employed individuals, and such
other families or individuals properly identified by the Government as in
need of emergency subsidy, resulting from the Enhanced Community
Quarantine (ECQ) being implemented or previously implemented by the
Government: PROVIDED, That the subsidy shall amount to a minimum
of Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000) to a maximum of Eight Thousand
Pesos (P8,000) a month: PROVIDED, That the subsidy shall be
computed based on the prevailing regional minimum wage rates:
PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the subsidy received -from the current
conditional cash transfer program and rice subsidy received by properly
identified and qualified low income families shall be taken into
consideration in the computation of the emergency subsidy as provided
for in this Act. PROVIDED, FURTHERMORE, That the vetting and
validation of beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP),
and the related liquidation report thereto shall be simplified to expedite
the distribution of the subsidy: PROVIDED, FINALLY, that a definite list
of beneficiaries of the SAP shall be submitted to Congress;

(g) Provision of one (1) month emergency subsidy to low income
households who are qualified but were not granted such subsidy as
mandated under Section 4c of the Republic Act No. 11469;

(h) Provision of unemployment or involuntary separation assistance
amounting to Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000) for displaced workers or
employees, including probationary, project, seasonal, contractual and
casual employees in private health institutions, tourism, culture and arts,
creative industries, including but not limited to film and audiovisual
workers, construction, public transportation, trade industries, and other
sectors of the formal economy as may be identified by the DOLE, in
coordination with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and Social
Security System (SSS); freelancers, the self-employed and repatriated
OFWs, including OFWs whose deployment were suspended due to a
government-imposed deployment ban: PROVIDED, That any


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assistance given to OFWs shall be separate and distinct from the
benefits or assistance, if any, they receive as members of the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA): PROVIDED, FURTHER,
That any subsidy previously received under Republic Act No. 11469
does not preclude the displaced worker or employee, the freelancers,
self-employed, and repatriated OFWs from receiving the unemployment
or involuntary separation assistance provided herein;

(i

Access to livelihood assistance, skills and training programs, loan
assistance, and-employment opportunities for repatriated and returning
OFWs to ensure proper reintegration and the full utilization of their skills
for national development;

(i) Provision of a “COVID-19 special risk allowance” for all public health
workers on a monthly basis for every month that they are serving in the
duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the hazard pay
granted under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers or Republic
Act No. 7305;

(k) Implementation of mandatory COVID-19 testing of public and private
health workers every fifteen (15) days to ensure their protection;

(1) Assumption of all medical expenses of public and private health workers
in case of exposure to COVID-19 or any work-related injury or disease
during the duration of the pandemic;

(m) Provision of compensation of One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P100,000) to public and private health workers who have contracted or
who may contract severe COVID-19 infection while in the line of duty:
PROVIDED, FURTHER, That a compensation of One Million Pesos
(P1,000,000) shall be given to public and private health workers, who
have died or may die while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic:
PROVIDED, FINALLY, That this shall have retroactive application from
January 1, 2020;


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(n) Provision of opportunity to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries to enhanced

access to credit facilities after the disruption of the food supply chain by
the COVID-19 pandemic.

(0) The pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 10931 otherwise known as

the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act," Republic Act
No. 8545 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 otherwise known as the “Enhanced
Basic Education Act of 2013” or the “K to 12 Law,” to the contrary
notwithstanding, provision of 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 CQ as follows:

(1) 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 (P8,000) 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

(2) 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
(P3,000) per student.


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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 (SY) 2019-2020 or for
payment of tuition fee for school year SY 2020-2021: PROVIDED, that
the subsidy shall be released prior to the opening of SY 2020-2021 or
within a reasonable period after school opening but in no case later
than September 2020, in a manner similar to the Tertiary Education
Subsidy (TES), Educational Service Contracting (ESC), and Senior
High School Voucher Program (SHS VP).

(p) Provision of a one-time cash assistance amounting to Ten Thousand
Pesos (P10,000) to affected 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 CQ;

(q) Ensure that all LGUs are acting within the letter and spirit of all the
tules, regulations and directives issued by the National Government
pursuant to this Act; and 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;

() Enforcement of 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


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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;

(s) Ensure that donation, acceptance and distribution of health products

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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);

) Procurement of the following as the need arises, in the most judicious,
economical and expeditious manner, as exemptions from the provisions
on bidding process required under Republic Act No. 9184 or the
“Government Procurement Reform Act” and other relevant laws:
PROVIDED, That the following information and documents related to
the procurement shall be published in the Government Procurement
Policy Board (GPPB) online portal, the website of the procuring entity
concerned, if available, and at any conspicuous place reserved for this
purpose in the premises of the procuring entity within seven (7) working
days from the date of acceptance of the award:

(i) Project name;

(ii) Approved budget for contract;

(iii) Contract period;

(iv) Name of winning supplier, distributor, manufacturer,
contractor or consultant;

(v) Amount of contract as awarded;

(vi) Notice of award;

(vii) Date of award and acceptance;

(viii) contract or purchase order; and

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(ix) A certification stating that the procuring entity exerted all
efforts to secure the most advantageous price to the
government based on existing price data of the agency, the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or other relevant
agencies or preliminary market scanning done by the
agency showing prevailing market prices and practice.

(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

(ili) Public and private laboratories that have existing capacities
to test suspected COVID-19 patients.

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(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

ies;

s, telecommunications, and other critical services in
relation to operation of quarantine centers, medical relief and aid
distribution centers and temporary medical facilities; and

(6) Ancillary services related to the foregoing.

PROVIDED, That to ensure adequate and responsive supply of
critical products, the government, as procuring entity shall give preference
and procure products, materials and supplies produced, made or
manufactured in the Philippines. For this purpose, the DTI shall issue a
certification that the products, articles, materials, or supplies are produced,
made or manufactured in the Philippines.

(u) 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;

(v) 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 (t)(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

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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;

(w) 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 (P3,000,000);

(x) Development of a loan program of appropriate Government Financial
Institutions (GF ls) for institutions of learning that have been affected by the
decrease in enrollment due to the CQ 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;

(y) Direct the Small Business Corporation (SBC) to expand its existing loan
programs for MSMEs through a combination of increasing available
loanable funds, reducing documentary 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
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(2) Direct the Land Bank of the Philippines (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;

(aa) 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.

(bb) Liberalization of the grant of incentives for the manufacture or importation
of critical or needed equipment or supplies or essential goods for the
carrying-out of the policy declared herein, including healthcare equipment
and supplies: PROVIDED, That importation and/or local sale of these
equipment and supplies shall be exempt from import duties, taxes and
other fees; For this purpose, critical products, equipment or supplies or
essential goods shall include the following: (1) goods referred to in Section
3 (t)(1) hereof; (2) equipment for waste management, including but not
limited to waste segregation, storage, collection, sorting, treatment and
disposal services; provided, that these said equipment and technologies
and services are approved by the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR), DOH or other concerned regulatory agencies; (3)
inputs, raw materials and equipment necessary for the manufacture or

production of food and essential goods referred to in Section 3 (t)(1)
hereof;

(cc) 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 and/or improve the national end-to-

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end supply chain, including measures to reduce logistics costs and regulate
and waive, as necessary, extra shipping charges imposed by international
shipping lines, especially for basic commodities and services to the
maximum extent possible;

(dd) Requiring businesses to prioritize and accept contracts, subject to fair and
reasonable terms, for materials and services necessary to promote the
herein declared national policy;

(ee) Provision of extension support, financial subsidies or other forms of
assistance to qualified agri-fishery enterprises, farmers, fisherfolk, and
other agricultural workers by the Department of Agriculture (DA);

(ff) Direct the Department of Transportation (DOT) 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:

(1) Grant emergency credit lines for purposes of funding operations
through government financial institutions (GFls);

(2) Grant concessional interest rate on loan or long-term credit facility
through GFls to allow the restructuring of existing debts and assist in
rehabilitation;

(3) Provide credit guarantee schemes to guarantee bank loans and
credit lines;

(4) Provide grants for applicable regulatory fees;

(5) Allow substitution of refund option to travel vouchers;

(6) Provide grants for fuel subsidy and/or digital fare vouchers, as may
be necessary; and

(7) 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

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and other terms and conditions for any of the above-mentioned
assistance, subject to the guidelines issued under this section.

For purposes of item (a) (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, including proper credit assessment of the borrower by the
LBP and DBP which will administer the credit facilities or loan
guarantees under this Act. PROVIDED, That a reasonable and proper
business plan shall be submitted by the borrower: PROVIDED,
FURTHER, That, loan interventions implemented under this section

shall be exclusively for critically impacted business in the transportation
industry only.

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.

Availment of any economic relief such as wage subsidy, loan,
and loan guarantees and other relief under the other provisions of this
act, does not disqualify such critically impacted businesses belonging to
the transportation industry from availing the economic relief provided
under this section.

The DOTr shall prioritize business entities that shall require
assistance for any activity that supports the Balik Probinsya, Bagong
Pag-asa Program under Executive Order (E.0.) No. 114 series of 2020.

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(gg) Direct the Department of Tourism (DOT) to assist critically impacted
businesses that are tourism enterprises, including tourism oriented
barangay micro business enterprises, or other members of the informal
sector in the tourism economy in any of the following programs:

(1) Low interest loans or issuance of loan guarantees through GFis
with terms of up to five (5) years for maintenance and operating
expenses;

(2) Credit facilities through GFls for upgrading, rehabilitation, or
modernization of current establishments or facilities to be compliant
with new health and safety standards;

(3) Marketing and product development, promotions and programs,
including travel advertising and festival-support strategies;

(4) Grants for education, training, and advising of tourism stakeholder
for the new normal alternative livelihood programs;

(5) Utilization of information technology for the improvement of tourism
services, development of a tourist tracking system for emergency
response, and establishment of spatial database to improve
planning capacity;

(6) In partnership with the LGU and DOH and/or private entities,
establish COVID-19 testing centers in tourist destinations as
identified by the DOT, to stimulate tourism and generate
employment; and

(7) Any other relevant programs, including infrastructure, product-
sourcing, and subsidized domestic package tours necessary to
mitigate the economic effects of COVID-19 on the tourism industry.

For purposes of items (1) and (2) herein, government financial
institutions such as the LBP and DBP shall administer the loans for
DOT but subject to guidelines from the DOT that shall be prepared for
these purposes: PROVIDED, That the loan interventions implemented
under this Section shall be exclusively for accredited tourism

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enterprises, including such small-scale tourism-oriented enterprises
accredited by LGUs.

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 prioritize establishments that (1) support the Balik
Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program under E.O. No. 114, series of
2020, and (2) comply with the guidelines of the DOH towards ensuring
an adequate and responsive supply of health care services.

(hh) Undertaking measures in partnership with appropriate internet and

communication service providers in the acceleration of 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 in order to sufficiently
meet the significant additional shift of the general public to online
services and platforms and to home and mobile communication units for
doing work from home, for completing commercial and other
transactions, for convening meetings and conducting conferences and
seminars/webinars, and for obtaining educational instruction during the
COVID-19 pandemic through the Department of Information and
Communications Technology (DICT);

(li) Directing the DTI in coordination with other implementing agencies, to

accelerate and undertake massive promotion of online commerce and
offer technical and financial assistance through GFls to those engaged
in E-Commerce, such as those involved in internet retail, digital financial
services, digital media, and ride-hailing. These include programs that
will expedite the digitalization of MSMEs through training subsidies for
onboarding or starter kits, wage support for new online enterprises,

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upskilling/reskilling and other activities as may be defined by the DTI,
DICT, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),
and Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

(jj) Regulation and limitation of 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,
LGU bicycle sharing scheme with proper safety equipment and pop-up

bike lanes, for commuters, particularly health workers and other
frontliners;

(kk) Regulation of 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;

(ll) Authorization of 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;

(mm) Conservation and regulation of the distribution and use of power, fuel,
energy and water, and ensure adequate supply of the same;

(nn) Implementation of 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 COVID-19 virus
and other diseases;

(00) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, to direct the discontinuance of
appropriated programs, projects or activities (P/A/P) of any agency of
the Executive Department, including GOCCs, in the FYs 2019 and 2020
General Appropriations Act (GAA), which cannot be utilized effectively
as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, whether released or unreleased,
the allotments for which remain unobligated, and utilize the savings

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generated therefrom to augment the allocation for any item needed to
address the COVID-19 pandemic consistent with the herein declared
national policy. The P/A/Ps that may be discontinued shall include
discretionary foreign travel, representation, mass events and those
identified by government agencies prior to the effectivity of this Act;
Provided that such discontinued P/A/Ps do not support the objectives of
economic stimulus and recovery for having low labor intensity or low
multiplier effects; Provided, Further, that infrastructure, having the
highest multiplier effect can only be discontinued when all other funds,
including unobligated allotments and unreleased appropriations, have
been exhausted; Provided, Finally, 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; and Quick Response Fund (QRF);

(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 Ang 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;

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(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 (AICS), 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) RF 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
Act No. 11465 or the “General Appropriations Act of 2020", may be
revived and proposed for funding within the next two (2) fiscal years;

(pp) Any unutilized or unreleased balance in a special 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;

(qq) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, to 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 10 hereof,

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(rr) 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;

(ss) Moving of 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;

(tt) Directing all banks, quasi-banks, financing companies, lending
companies, real estate developers, insurance companies providing life
insurance policies, pre-need companies, entities providing in-house
financing for goods and properties purchased, 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, commercial, and motor vehicle loans, amortizations and
premium payments, as well as credit card payments, falling due within
the period of the ECQ or Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine
(MECQ) in cities, provinces, or regions declared by the proper
authorities without incurring interest on interests, penalties, fees, or
other charges and thereby extending the maturity of the said loans to a
period equal to the period of CQ: PROVIDED, That unpaid credit card
bills shall be settled on staggered basis without interest on interests,
penalties and other charges until December 31, 2020.

PROVIDED, FURTHER, That businesses not allowed to operate
during the CQ shall likewise enjoy the benefits of the 30-day grace
period.

PROVIDED, FURTHERMORE, That in addition to the
provided grace period, banks, other Non-Bank Financial Institutions
(NBFls) under the supervision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP),
and lending and financing companies under the supervision of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), are encouraged to extend

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the terms of or agree to the restructuring of existing (i) consumer loans
of employees of non-essential businesses, (ii) commercial loans of non-
essential businesses, or to fund activities or investments therein, and
(iii) local government loans, under any or all of the following conditions:

(1) The payment dates of the consumer loans, commercial, and local
government loans referred herein, or any part thereof, are due
anytime between March 16, 2020 and December 31, 2020;

(2) The loan term may be extended for a period up to one (1) year,
which may be further extended for a maximum of another one (1)
year; and

(3) Only the principal payments may be suspended in case of
moratorium;

PROVIDED, FINALLY, That the banks and other NBFls that agree
to further loan term extensions or restructuring pursuant to this section
shall be entitled to regulatory relief, as may be determined by the BSP,
which may include, but is not limited to, (i) Staggered booking of
allowances for credit losses, (ii) Exemption from loan-loss provisioning,
(ii) Exemption from the limits on real estate loans, when applicable, (iv)
Exemption from related party transaction restrictions, and (v) Non-
inclusion in the bank's or NBFI’s reporting on non-performing loans.

It is understood that this provision shall not apply to interbank loan

and bank borrowings.

(uu) Direct all institutions providing electric, water, telecommunications,
and other similar utilities to implement a minimum of thirty (30)-day
grace period for the payment of utilities falling due within the period of
ECQ or MECQ without incurring interests, penalties, and other charges:
PROVIDED, That after the grace period, unpaid residential and MSME
utility bills may be settled on a staggered basis payable in not less than
three (3) monthly installments, subject to the procedural requirements of
the concerned regulatory agencies in the imposition of such installment
plan without interests, penalties, and other charges: PROVIDED,
FURTHER, That covered institutions under this sub-section may offer

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less onerous payment terms, with the consent of their clients subject to
the approval of their respective regulators: PROVIDED, FINALLY, that
in the case of the electric power sector, the minimum thirty (30) day-
grace period and staggered payment without interests, penalties and
other charges shall apply to all payments due within the period of the
CQ in the entire electric power value chain to include generation
companies, the transmission utility, and distribution utilities;

(vv) Provide for a minimum of thirty (30)-day grace period on residential
rents and commercial rents of lessees not permitted to work, and
MSMEs ordered to temporarily cease operations, falling due within the
period of the CQ, without incurring interests, penalties, fees, and other
charges: PROVIDED, That all amounts due within the period of CQ
shall be amortized in equal monthly installments until December 31,
2020 without any interests, penalties and other charges: PROVIDED,
FURTHER, That no increase in rent shall be imposed during the same
period: PROVIDED, FURTHERMORE, That the minimum thirty (30)-day
grace period shall be reckoned from the date of the lifting of the ECQ or
MECQ;

(ww) Implementation of 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.

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(xx) Lifting of 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;

(yy) Provision of assistance to the agriculture industry by creating the
“Plant, Plant, Plant” Program which shall be composed of the following:
(1) Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) kontra sa COVID-19; (2) food
markets — food logistics and other interventions; (3) Urban agriculture
program of the DA; and (4) Cash for work program in agriculture;

(zz) Implementation of a program which would: (1) fast track the approval
of all pending and new applications for housing loans, permits and
licenses by simplifying the requirements and procedure; and (2)
accommodate and prioritize critically impacted home buyers who may
want to shift from private bank financing to PAG-IBIG home financing
with simplified requirements through the Department of Human
Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) program and its key
shelter agencies.

(aaa) Encouraging 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.

(bbb) Encouraging 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

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of allowance for credit losses for all types of credit accommodations
extended to individuals and business entities affected by COVID-19.

(ccc) Issuance of a directive that all government agencies and LGUs shall
act on all pending and new applications for permit, license, certificate,
clearance, authorization and resolutions within a non-extendable period
of five (5) working days, 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;

(ddd) Production of 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-for-
work program, as provided for in Sections 3 and 4 of this Act, through
the DOTr:

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the DOTr is directed to coordinate
the accelerated distribution of remaining subsidy under the Social
Amelioration Program of Bayanihan | to driver beneficiaries so as not to
coincide and confuse with the subsidy provided in this Act:

PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the DOTr is likewise tasked to work
with financial institutions in looking at the possible restructuring of existing
loans without penalty and the provision of credit lines and low interest
loans to help critically-impacted transport service providers:

PROVIDED, FURTHERMORE, That the DOTr is also directed to
coordinate with transport service providers and LGUs to negotiate service
contracting of public utility vehicles as a form of temporary livelihood to
workers displaced by restrictions and reduced capacity of public
transportation, and other forms of arrangement to ensure that livelihood in
the transport sector is preserved:

PROVIDED, FINALLY, That there shall be no phaseout, at the
national and local level, of any modality of public utility vehicle as the
industry transitions to a new normal.

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(eee) Provision of access to free, healthy meals to undernourished
children as mandated by Republic Act No. 11037 regardless of modality of
learning through the DepEd.

(fff) Providing regulatory relief to the critically-impacted creative sector by
tasking the DTI and the DILG to review the imposition of the amusement
tax. The President of the Philippines shall have the power to suspend,
reduce or waive the imposition of the fees and charges as recommended
by the DTI and DILG for a period of six (6) months.

(ggg) Provision of loan assistance; subsidies, discounts or grants to
schools, universities, colleges, technical vocational institutions, teachers,
faculties, and students for the purchase of distance learning tools, such as
computers, laptops, tablets and other ICT devices and equipment
necessary to conduct and access classes and learning materials under
alternative delivery modes of teaching and learning in the new normal
through the DepEd, the CHED and the TESDA, in partnership with GFls:
PROVIDED, That the loan shall have terms that are more reasonable than
those prevailing in the market;

(hhh) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 272 of Republic Act No.
7160 or the “Local Government Code of 1991”, a portion of the Special
Education Fund shall be used for the purchase of materials and supplies
under DepEd’s learning continuity plan, provision of safe schools
infrastructure, equipment and facilities such as handwashing stations,
soap, alcohol, sanitizers, and other disinfecting solutions, as well as
medical health supplies deemed appropriate by public health officials such
as thermometers, face masks, and face shields, subject to existing
accounting and auditing rules.

(iii) Extension of the term of standby loans entered into by LGUs;

(jj) Directing the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to
reinstate and proceed with the implementation of Infrastructure Programs
and Projects that were discontinued due to the pandemic and to expedite
the implementation of Infrastructure Programs and Projects to generate
local employment and stimulate the local economy;

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(kkk) Allowing National and Local Government Agencies to directly
purchase agricultural and fishery products from farmers and fisherfolk as a
form of direct assistance even beyond the lapse of Republic Act No. 11469,
or the “Bayanihan To Heal As One Act,” in accordance with Republic Act
No. 11321, or the “Sagip Saka Act; and

(Ill) Utilize the funding as provided in Section 4 of this Act.
SEC. 4. Funding. In addition to the funds that will be raised under Section
3 (00), (pp), (qq) and (rr) of this Act, a One Hundred Sixty Two Billion Pesos
(P162,000,000,000) standby fund is hereby appropriated and shall be used to

‘Support operations and response measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic
and the following:

a. Twelve Billion Pesos (P12,000,000,000) 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;

b. Eighteen Billion Pesos (P18,000,000,000) for the implementation of
cash-for-work program and the TUPAD, such as, but not limited to,
temporary hiring of 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;

c. Five Billion Pesos (P5,000,000,000) for the implementation of the
Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation Program of the DSWD to
augment the current assistance provided for those affected by the
COVID-19 pandemic;

d. Twenty One Billion Pesos (P21,000,000,000) for the unemployment or
involuntary separation assistance for displaced workers or employees,
such as those in private health institutions, private basic and higher
education institutions and part-time faculty in State Universities and

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Colleges (SUCs), tourism, culture and arts, creative industry including,
but not limited to, film and audiovisual workers, construction, public
transportation and trade industries, and other sectors of the formal
economy as may be identified by the DOLE, in coordination with the
BIR, and SSS; freelancers, the self-employed and repatriated OFWs
including OFWs whose deployment were suspended due to a
government-imposed deployment ban;

e. Fifty Billion Pesos (P50,000,000,000) for the infusion of capital to GFis
to be allocated as follows:

1. Five Billion Pesos (P5,000,000,000) for the credit guarantee
program of the Philippine Guarantee Corporation;

2. Thirty Billion Pesos (P30,000,000,000) to support wholesale
banking and equity infusion of the Land Bank of the Philippines
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, re
trade, accommodation and tourism services and MSMEs; and

3. Fifteen Billion Pesos (P15,000,000,000) to support wholesale
banking and equity infusion of the Development Bank of the
Philippines 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;

e. Twenty One Billion (P21,000,000,000) to provide direct cash subsidy,
interest-free loans under the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) and
government financial institutions, 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 composed of the following: (1) Ahon Lahat,
Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) kontra sa COVID-19; (2) food markets — food
logistics and other interventions; (3) Urban agriculture program of the DA;

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and (4) Cash for work program in agriculture to ensure food security and
continuous productivity in the agricultural sector;

Twenty One Billion Pesos (P21,000,000,000) to finance the programs of
the DOTr to assist the critically impacted businesses in the transportation
industry, including the provision of interest rate subsidies, provision of
temporary livelihood to displaced workers in the industry through service
contracting of public utility vehicles, as provided in this Act, and for the
development of accessible sidewalks and protected bicycle lanes,
Procurement of bicycles and related safety equipment for bicycle

distribution, sharing and lending programs, and procurement of bicycle
racks; and

. Ten Billion Pesos (P10,000,000,000) to finance the programs of the DOT to

assist the critically impacted businesses in the tourism industry, including
the provision of interest rate subsidies.

. Three Billion Pesos (P3,000,000,000) to assist SUCs in the development of

smart campuses through investments in ICT infrastructure, acquisition of
learning management systems and other appropriate equipment to fully
implement the flexible learning modality.
One Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000) to assist the TESDA training
institutions for the development of smart campuses through investments in
ICT infrastructure, acquisition of learning management systems and other
appropriate equipment to fully implement the flexible learning modality.
PROVIDED, That the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) shall submit reports on the releases made pursuant to this Section
as part of the weekly report as mandated in Section 6 of this Act.

SEC. 5. Sources of Funding. - The enumerated subsidy and stimulus

measures, as well as all other measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic shall
be funded from the following:

(a) 2020 General Appropriations Act (GAA): PROVIDED, That funds for the
herein authorized programs and projects shall be sourced primarily from
the unprogrammed funds and savings realized from modified, realigned,

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or reprogrammed allocations for operational expense of any
government agency or instrumentality under the Executive Department,
including, but not limited to, travelling expenses, supplies and materials
expenses, professional services, general services, advertising
expenses, printing and publication expenses, and other maintenance
and operating expenses in the 2020 GAA.

(b) Savings pooled pursuant to Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to
Heal as One Act and Section 3 paragraphs (00), (pp), (qq), and (rr) of
this Act;

(c) Excess revenue collections 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);

(d) 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;

(e) Proceeds from loans and other foreign borrowings;

(f) All amounts derived from the cash, funds, and investments held by any
GOCC or any national government agency;

(g)Amounts derived from the 5% franchise tax on all gaming
receipts/earnings or the agreed pre-determined minimum monthly
revenues from gaming operations, whichever is higher, earned by
offshore gaming licensees, including gaming operators, gaming agent,
service providers and gaming support providers;

(h) Income tax, VAT, and other applicable taxes on income from non-
gaming operations earned by offshore gaming licensees, operators,
agents, service providers and support providers.

After two years or upon a determination that the threat of COVID-19 has
been successfully contained or abated, whichever comes first, the revenues
derived under paragraphs (g) and (h) shall accrue to the General Fund of the
Government. The BIR shall implement closure orders against offshore gaming

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licensees, operators, agents, service providers and support providers who fail to
Pay the taxes due, and such entities shall cease to operate.

SEC. 6. Reports to Congress and Creation of an Oversight Committee. —
The President, during Monday of every week, shall submit a weekly report to
Congress of all acts performed pursuant to this Act during the immediately
preceding week including a report on the targets and actual accomplishments of
government programs, strategies, plans, and efforts relative to the COVID-19
pandemic as well as relevant and more granulated health-related data, and such
other information which Congress may require. The terms and conditions of any
loan entered into by the government to finance the programs and projects to
implement this law shall likewise be included in the Report. The Report shall also
contain a detailed BESF tables for COVID-19, similar to the BESF tables
submitted to Congress by the Development Budget Coordination Committee.

For this purpose, the Congress shall establish a Joint Congressional
Oversight Committee composed of four (4) members of each house to be
appointed by the Senate President and the House Speaker, respectively. This
Committee shall determine whether such acts, orders, rules and regulations are
within the restrictions provided herein.

SEC. 7. Construction or interpretation. — Nothing herein shall be construed
as an impairment, restriction or modification of the provisions of the Constitution.
In case the exercise of the powers herein granted conflicts with other statutes,
orders, rules or regulations, the provisions of this Act shall prevail.

SEC. 8. Separability. — If any provision of this Act or the application of such
provision to any person or circumstance is declared invalid, the remainder of this
Act or the application of such provision to any other person or circumstance shall
not be affected by such declaration.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. — Republic Act No. 11469 is hereby repealed
upon the adjournment of the First Regular Session of the Eighteenth Congress, in
accordance with Article VI, Section 23 (2) of the Constitution. All laws, acts,
decrees, executive orders, issuances, and rules and regulations or parts thereof

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which are contrary to and inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed, amended
or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its publication in the
Official Gazette and one newspaper of general circulation and shall be in full force
and effect until September 30, 2020, unless otherwise provided for in this Act or
extended by Congress.

Approved,

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