THE House of Representatives is eyeing to combine the expiring Bayanihan 2 law and the proposed Bayanihan 3 in one bill, a leader of the lower chamber said on Wednesday.
In a news conference, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda said Congress can now approve the proposed Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or the Bayanihan 3 into law as the Department of Finance (DOF) already found P173 billion to fund the third tranche of the Bayanihan law.
“We already have the go-ahead from the DOF to go as high as P173 billion for Bayanihan 3 so I think both of them [Bayanihan 2 and Bayanihan 3] can be tackeled in a special session through Commitee of the Whole,” he said.
“We’re [the leadership] talking of combining Bayanihan 3 and extension of Bayanihan 2,” he said.
According to Salceda, Article VI, Section 15 of the House provides that “the President may call a special session at any time.”
“This was invoked in passing the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. The House and the Senate are also allowed by their respective rules to call for a special session without the President’s call,” Salceda said.
Salceda earlier called for an extension of Bayanihan 2 through a memorandum for the House leadership, which the House tax panel chairman says the leadership is actively exploring.
About P18.4 billion in unobligated funds for critical pandemic response and recovery programs under the Bayanihan are about to expire on June 30.
On the Bayanihan 3, the House already endorsed for Senate approval the proposed P401-billion Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or the Bayanihan 3.
The P401-billion bill is divided into three phases. Phase 1 would amount to P165.9 billion, Phase 2 with P186 billion and Phase 3 with P48.6 billion.