Duterte asks Congress for 'powers’ to deal with Covid-19 crisis

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is seeking authority from Congress to exercise powers needed to deal with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.

"Pursuant to the powers vested in me under Section 15, Article 6 of the Constitution, I, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Philippines, do hereby call the Congress of the Philippines to a special session on March 23, 2020 or as soon as practicable to authorize the President to exercise powers necessary to carry out urgent measures to meet the current national emergency relating to the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19); to provide ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds to strengthen governmental response against the threat of the said disease; and to continue providing basic services to the people, in addition to the urgent and critical measures implemented pursuant to Proclamation 922 and 929, series of 2020, declaring a state of public health emergency and a state of calamity throughout the Philippines," Proclamation 933 stated.