The Senate on Wednesday, October 14, approved on 3rd and final reading a bill that grants the President special powers against red tape during national emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Rodrigo Duterte certified the bill as urgent earlier on Wednesday. This waived the mandatory 3-day interval between a bill’s 2nd and 3rd readings. The Senate approved the special powers bill on 2nd reading last Monday, October 12.

All 23 senators present in Wednesday’s plenary session voted in favor of the proposed measure. Only Senator Leila de Lima, still detained at Camp Crame in Quezon City, was unable to cast a vote.

Senate Bill (SB) No. 1844 authorizes the President to expedite the processing and issuance of national and local government permits, licenses, and certifications in times of national emergency.

It is meant to facilitate economic activity during crises, and curb corruption stemming from convoluted bureaucratic processes.

The bill covers all government agencies under the executive branch. It gives the President power to “accelerate and streamline” regulatory processes and procedures for new or pending applications from businesses for government permits, licenses, clearances, certifications, or authorizations.

Under the proposed measure, the President may fix or shorten the periods for the processing and release of these documents. The President may also suspend or waive the requirements for securing them.

The President may also prescribe that the streamlined processes and procedures implemented under the measure be made permanent.

During plenary discussions on the bill, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri noted that it does not mandate an automatic “yes” to businesses applying for government clearances. Instead, it shortens the time within which government agencies are to grant or deny their applications.

“Hopefully the executive department can start reviewing now the processes involved in certifications, licenses, and permits and even make it much shorter than what we passed through the ease of doing business [law] of 20 days, 7 days, and 3 days. We hope that with this measure, the President will be able to cut the times even shorter,” said Zubiri, one of the bill’s principal authors, after its passage.

“The President wants government agencies to be more responsive in the present COVID-19 pandemic, and one way to realize this is to improve the delivery of public services. The Chief Executive hopes, by simplifying processes and cutting red tape in the executive branch, we will be able to facilitate our country’s economic activity and accelerate socioeconomic recovery, for the betterment of our people,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

SB No. 1844 was originally authored by Zubiri, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Duterte asked the leaders of Congress in a recent meeting for a measure that would enable him to cut red tape and corruption in the bureaucracy.

The House of Representatives has yet to come up with a counterpart measure to SB No. 1844.

“House leaders under the leadership of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco are in full agreement with the Chief Executive to fast-track the approval of all pending measures related to the anti-red tape and anti-corruption campaign of the government,” House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said in a statement.

“The President is tired of continued corruption. He wants a legacy that genuine reforms are implemented under his term. He stressed that any delay in the release of business permits is tantamount to corruption,” he added.

Romualdez said the House is preparing its counterpart bill. – with reports from Pia Ranada and Mara Cepeda/Rappler.com