Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11494)
The short title of Republic Act No. 11494 is the "Bayanihan to Recover As One Act."
The policy of the State is to promote a just and dynamic social order that ensures the prosperity and independence of the nation and frees the people from poverty, particularly in the aftermath of disasters, through adequate social services, full employment, rising living standards, and improved quality of life for all.
The President is authorized to exercise necessary and proper powers to undertake and implement COVID-19 response and recovery interventions pursuant to Article VI, Section 23(2) of the Constitution.
Measures include adoption and implementation of transmission suppression protocols, compulsory testing and isolation, procurement of PPE, subsidies to low income households, unemployment assistance, support for health workers, regulatory reliefs, and acceleration of digital infrastructure deployment, among others.
Any person committing unjust acts of discrimination against confirmed, suspected, probable, or recovered COVID-19 patients, returning OFWs, health workers, frontliners, or indigents shall be penalized with imprisonment of six months and a fine of One hundred thousand pesos (₱100,000.00).
The President may direct the operation of privately-owned hospitals, medical health facilities, passenger vessels, and other establishments to house health workers, serve as quarantine areas, or provide transport for health and frontline personnel, with provisions for reasonable compensation to the owners.
Retirement benefits received by officials and employees of private firms from June 5, 2020 until December 31, 2020, shall be excluded from gross income and exempt from taxation, subject to conditions regarding re-employment.
Funding sources include unprogrammed funds and savings from reallocations in the 2020 General Appropriations Act, savings pooled under RA 11469, excess and new revenues, cash and investments held by government agencies and GOCCs, and taxes on offshore gaming operations, among others.
The system, jointly developed by DOH and the Philippine Red Cross, aims to provide patients with a fast and efficient way to locate and avail services of health facilities, blood banks, plasma facilities, and ambulance systems.
The Act allows procurement of COVID-19 drugs and vaccines exempting Phase IV trials if recommended by WHO or similar agencies; it authorizes exemptions from bidding for PPE and critical supplies with required transparency and priority for locally manufactured products.
They shall receive a COVID-19 special risk allowance exempt from income tax, mandatory biweekly COVID-19 testing, coverage of medical expenses for work-related COVID-19 exposure, compensation for sickness or death caused by COVID-19 in the line of duty, life insurance, accommodation, transportation, meals, and hazard duty pay.
LGUs are authorized to realign various local funds (including development, Gender and Development, Sangguniang Kabataan, Special Education Funds) to address COVID-19 needs, use up to 10% of their budget for pandemic-related expenditures, increase personnel services cap, and are exempt from loan ceiling caps.
It enforces measures against hoarding, profiteering, price manipulation, cartels, and ensures donations of health products are not delayed; it also prioritizes locally made medical supplies and regulates supply chains to ensure accessibility.
The President must submit monthly reports to Congress and the Commission on Audit detailing all acts performed under the Act, including program targets and accomplishments, loan terms, and detailed budget execution reports. Congress establishes a Joint Oversight Committee to monitor compliance.
The Act authorizes alternative working arrangements for employees and workers in the Executive Branch and, when necessary, other branches and the private sector to ensure work continuity during the pandemic.