The House of Representatives on Monday, August 10 approved on third and final reading its version of Bayanihan 2 or the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act, voting 242-6.
Bayanihan 2 is expected to address the adverse effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through health and socio-economic programs. The Lower Chamber’s version has earmarked Ph₱162 billion to provide additional funding for the government’s continuing pandemic response.
Voting 22-1, the Senate last month passed its own version of Bayanihan 2 which will appropriate Ph₱140 billion to the country’s COVID-19 war chest once enacted.
A bicameral conference committee will be called to reconcile conflicting provisions of both versions of the Senate and of the House of Representatives.
President Rodrigo Duterte urged Congress during his fifth State of the Nation Address to immediately pass the said legislative measure.