MALACAÑANG underscored the need for a new Bayanihan law even before the government would consider the idea of re-imposing stringent lockdown in view of the radical spike in the number of COVID-19 infections in the country.
According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the government would have to take into consideration the adverse effects on the economy, imminent displacement of workers and an impending hunger among Filipino families before reverting restrictions back under strict community quarantine classifications.
Roque said that under this predicament, the government would have to provide means in form of government assistance to sectors which would be affected by the stringent restrictions, adding that Congress would have to pass Bayanihan 3 which he claimed would stipulate details as to the magnitude of funds, reach and type of assistance that the government would extend – and from where funds should be drawn.
“So, iyon nga lang po, ang magriresulta diyan eh mas malaki na namang sektor ng ekonomiya ang magsasara, mas marami lalo ang magugutom. At sa ngayon po wala tayong probisyon para sa ayuda, dahil ang ayuda po natin early on ay nasa Bayanihan 1,” Roque said.
“So, baka kinakailangan gumawa ng hakbang ang Kongreso para magkaroon na naman ng Bayanihan 3, kung tayo po ay magla-lockdown,” he added.
The Palace mouthpiece, however, clarified that re-imposition of a strict lockdown has remained far from President Rodrigo Duterte’s mind, even as he claimed that the country could no longer afford another lockdown.
“Pero iyan po ay the last resort na ipapatupad natin dahil alam po natin ngayon, matindi na po ang pagkakagutom dahil nga po sa pagsasara ng ekonomiya. Kaya hangga’t maaari, we are relying on localized lockdown at saka panawagan, paigtingin pa natin iyong alam nating nakakabawas ng kaso – mask, hugas, iwas at bakuna,” Roque quipped.