Passage of a third coronavirus package is not necessary, according to Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday, noting that the validity of the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Bayanihan 2) has been extended until next year.
“There is no necessity because we extended Bayanihan 2,” he said in an online forum.
“Bayanihan 2 is still in progress. I think they are doing well [in its disbursement], they are doing fine,” he said.
Last year, the Senate approved on final reading the extension of the validity of the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Bayanihan 2) by 6 months or until June 30, 2021 to ensure that agencies could still utilize unspent funds under the measure.
It was the second emergency law passed to ensure distribution of critical aid amid the COVID-19 pandemic, following the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act.
Congress also extended the validity of the 2020 budget until the end of 2021 as billions in funds remained unused when the spending plan expired on December 31, 2020.
