HB09411: BAYANIHAN TO ARISE AS ONE ACT
This Act, known as the "Bayanihan to Arise as One Act," introduces additional mechanisms to accelerate the recovery and bolster the resilience of the Philippine economy and public health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It classifies interventions into three types: "Kalinga" for direct emergency and social amelioration, "Kabuhayan" for livelihood support, and "Kalusugan" for food security and health interventions. A significant portion of the bill details financial appropriations for these interventions across three phases, including a cash subsidy for all Filipinos, emergency assistance for quarantine-affected households, wage subsidies for MSMEs, and assistance for displaced workers and the agri-fishery sector.
The Act also mandates free swab tests for seafarers and OFWs, continues special risk allowance for medical frontliners, and adopts COVID-19 health response interventions from previous Republic Acts. It strengthens the capacity of suppliers of essential COVID-19 goods and services through regulatory relief, interest-free loans, and R&D support. Furthermore, the bill authorizes LGUs and private entities to directly procure COVID-19 vaccines and outlines strategies for vaccination rollout. It provides support to LGUs through increased personnel services caps and expanded use of the Special Education Fund, and outlines sources of funding, including the 2021 General Appropriations Act, savings, excess revenue, and GOCC dividends.