House Speaker urges Senate to pass Bayanihan 3 amid ECQ

House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco urged the Senate to immediately pass the Bayanihan 3 bill, also known as the Bayanihan to Arise As One Act, highlighting its necessity with the reimposition of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila.

The proposed Bayanihan 3 aims to provide financial assistance to families affected by the pandemic, especially those in areas placed under stricter quarantine measures.

A significant portion of the bill, approximately PHP30 billion, is allocated for emergency cash subsidies to households.

This call for Bayanihan 3's immediate passage comes after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation to place Metro Manila under ECQ from August 6 to 20 due to the threat of the Delta variant.

Velasco appealed to senators to pass the measure and to economic managers to secure funding for the bill, emphasizing the need to balance citizen safety with essential needs.

However, House Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera asked Malacañang to reconsider the ECQ decision for NCR, citing its negative impact on the economy and residents, and warning of increased poverty without sufficient financial aid.