Malacañang announced that it will continue submitting reports on the use of President Rodrigo Duterte’s special powers in the COVID-19 response efforts of the administration. This, amid concerns from lawmakers that the law granting the chief executive additional powers had already expired.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque maintained that they will continue submitting weekly reports to Congress until June 25, exactly three months after the law was enacted.
Congress did not manage to extend Duterte’s special powers beyond this month as it adjourned on Friday without passing a new law for the extension of the special powers.
The Senate waited for Malacañang to certify as urgent the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act but Roque said it decided not to.
Among the powers granted to Duterte under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act include the ability to realign funds within the executive department towards the government’s COVID-19 response.
The law also grants a ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 subsidy to 18 million poor families for two months, and compensation for health workers who contract and die of COVID-19.
It also mandates Duterte to submit a weekly report to Congress on the use of his special powers.
