SANITATION FIRST. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte sanitizes his hands before holding a meeting with some members of his Cabinet to discuss updates on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Presidential Security Group (PSG) Compound in Malacañang Park on March 24, 2020. The President has signed a new law which gives him special powers for a limited time to help his administration address the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. (Presidential Photo)
[UPDATED] MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law that grants him special powers to step up the government’s fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
In a text message sent to reporters early Wednesday morning, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go confirmed that Duterte inked Republic Act (RA) 11469 or the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act".
Malacañang on Wednesday afternoon released the copy of RA 11469, which was signed on Tuesday.
The new law gives Duterte special powers for a limited time to help his administration address the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
“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,” RA 11469 read.
“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,” it added.
The signing of the RA came amid the implementation of an enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon until April 12 to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Following the signing of the law, Duterte now has the authority to adopt and implement measures to prevent the further transmission of Covid-19.
The President is also authorized to expedite the medical testing for Covid-19 and the immediate treatment of people who contracted the virus.
The law also allows Duterte to transform the Philippine General Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, and Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital into a medical facility that would be used to treat Covid-19 cases.
He likewise has the power to make sure that all local government units are following the guidelines on the implementation of community quarantine set by the national government.
The law allows the realignment of the government’s national budget amid the health crisis in the country.
“All such unspent, unutilized or unreleased money or funds sources 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 the national policy herein,” it read.
Under RA 11469, about 18 million low-income households will also receive a monthly emergency subsidy ranging from PHP5,000 to PHP8,000.
“The subsidy shall be computed based on the prevailing regional minimum wage rates,” it said. “The subsidy received from the current conditional cash transfer program and rice subsidy shall be taken into consideration in the computation of the emergency subsidy as provided for in this Act.”
Public health workers will get a “Covid-19 special risk allowance, on top of the hazard pay granted to them, according to the law.
It directs the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to shoulder all medical expenses of public and private health workers who may be exposed to Covid-19 or would suffer work-related injury or disease during the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine.
About PHP100,000 worth of cash aid will be distributed to public and private health workers who may contract “severe” Covid-19 infection while in the line of duty, while PHP1 million will be given to those who will die while fighting the coronavirus.
“This shall have retroactive application from Feb. 1, 2020,” the law read.
The newly-signed law also grants Duterte the authority to temporarily direct the operations of privately-owned hospitals, medical and health facilities, including passenger vessels and other establishments to house health workers or serve as quarantine areas.
It permits the President to "take over the operations of private enterprises that unjustifiably refuse or signify that they are no longer capable of operating their enterprises” due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Duterte also has the authority to ensure that donation, acceptance, and distribution of health products intended to address Covid-10 are “not unnecessarily delayed.”
He can likewise adopt measures aimed at protecting people from hoarding or profiteering.
Duterte is also required to submit a weekly report to Congress about his administration’s response to Covid-19.
Contrary to its proposed version, which said it is only valid for two months, the new law is effective for three months unless “extended by Congress.”
The new law may also be withdrawn earlier through a Congress resolution or a presidential proclamation.
Addressing the nation on Tuesday night, Duterte thanked Congress for granting him the special powers to combat Covid-19.
“Finally, the executive department can move, decide, and act freely for the best interest of the Filipino people during this health crisis,” he said.
There were a total of 636 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Philippines as of Wednesday afternoon. (PNA)
