The House of Representatives approved on 2nd reading Tuesday, May 25, the Bayanihan to Arise As One bill or the Bayanihan 3 stimulus package.

With nary an opposing vote, the House approved via viva voce voting the P401-Billion relief package promised for all Filipinos. This means that Bayanihan 3, one of the priority measures of the Velasco-led House, is a step closer to its 3rd and final approval at the lower chamber of Congress.

The counterpart proposal at the Senate has not moved forward, and the measure has not been declared as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The House bill though still lacked a constitutional requirement – the certificate of availability of funding.

The bill enjoyed overwhelming support at the House, with at least 293 lawmakers from different parties signing as co-authors of the bill.

Proponents of the bill have called for its swift approval to help Filipinos, who have been suffering from unemployment and hunger under the pandemic.

After Tuesday, the House has 4 session days left to pass the measure. Under House rules, the 3rd and final reading can only be done 3 session days after the 2nd reading.

The Makabayan bloc in the House sought to add amendments before its passage, but all of its proposals were rejected by the bill’s proponents, AAMBIS-OWA Representative Sharon Garin, and Marikina 2nd District Representative Stella Quimbo. – Rappler.com