Makabayan bloc says Bayanihan 2 gives Duterte ‘more unconstitutional powers’

Makabayan Bloc Facebook photo.

MANILA, Philippines – The Makabayan bloc on Saturday voiced its opposition to the P165.5 billion pandemic response package included in the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, or Bayanihan 2 Law, saying it will not stop or reverse the effects of the COVID- 19 pandemic.

The House of Representatives opposition group added that they vehemently reject the Bayanihan Act 2, as the measure would only give President Rodrigo Duterte “more unconstitutional powers that he can use to benefit his favored local and foreign investors and to trample down the rights of marginalized sectors “.

“At this point, the main obstacle to economic recovery is the Duterte administration’s disastrous failure to ‘flatten the curve’ of the COVID-19 pandemic despite imposing one of the longest and toughest roadblocks in the world on our people.” the group said. in a sentence.

Makabayan Bloc also noted that the Bayanihan Act 2 did not establish a measure for a free mass testing program, especially for front-line doctors and the workforce who must report to work amid the pandemic.

The group added that “the law remains fatally tied to the neoliberal framework of relying on foreign investment and imports to grow the economy.”

The bloc said Congress gave priority to the Build, Build, Build program that is intended to attract foreign investors.

“Bayanihan 2 also makes it clear that President Duterte is hell-bent on exploiting the pandemic to gain emergency powers that go beyond the limits imposed by the Constitution,” the group said.

Makabayan Bloc cited Article VI, Section 23 (2) of the Constitution which states that the special powers granted by Congress to the President to deal with a national emergency can only be exercised for a limited period.

The Bayanihan 2 Act will go into effect until Congress suspends the session on December 19, 2020, and Makabayan Bloc fears that the provisions of the Act will allow Duterte to continue to have powers even after the expiration or even after his presidency.

“We denounce these unconstitutional provisions that will allow the president to exercise powers that are intended to benefit favored local and foreign investors at the expense of the rights and well-being of indigenous peoples, farmers, fishermen and workers,” said Makabayan Bloc.

CFC

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