MANILA – Various business organizations expressed their support to immediately pass the special law that gives additional power to the executive branch to address the Covid-19 crisis in the country.
In a statement Monday, both local and foreign business groups believe that the Bayanihan Act of 2020 in the House of Representatives and the We Heal as One Act in Senate will help the government to aggressively combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
The business groups also suggest the following provisions for the new law:
--limit the duration of the law to two months and any extension thereof should be by an act of Congress;
--authorizing the President or his designees to grant special permits and exemptions from bureaucratic requirements under existing laws and regulations as may be reasonably necessary to avoid delay in the deployment or utilization of the funds and procurement of needed requirements;
--authorizing the President to adopt measures as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate and/or minimize disruption to the supply chain, especially for basic commodities and services to the maximum extent possible;
--providing rehabilitation, special financing programs and/or stimulus package to help businesses - especially micro, small, and medium enterprises - that are adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially to help them pay workers to remain quarantined and, when the pandemic is under control, to rehire and resume normal operations; and,
--supporting any assistance that the President may seek from foreign countries and multilateral organizations to raise money if necessary, under such terms and conditions as he may deem to be in the best interest of the country.
The business groups said the law shall be consistent with the country’s constitutional and legal principles to avoid constitutional challenges that would delay the implementation of the new legislation.
They recommended crafting a second bill that will include some foregoing items and providing additional funds if the re-allocated and re-aligned budget from government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations is insufficient.
“In order to minimize the damage of Covid-19 to the people and the economy, we urge Congress to pass quickly the special law at the earliest possible time,” the business groups said.
Organizations that expressed their support for the immediate passage of the bill include Bankers Association of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, People Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, and Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines.
The bills are also backed by chambers of commerce here of America, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, India, and Europe.
Business groups such as Anvil Business Club, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Investment House Association of the Philippines, Judicial Reform Initiative, Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines, Inc., Philippine Association of Securities Brokers and Dealers, Inc., Philippine Hotel Owners Association Inc., Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines, Subdivision And Housing Developers Association, Inc., and Women’s Business Council Philippines also supported the proposed bill. (PNA)
