PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law that authorizes him to exercise “stand-by powers” necessary to carry out urgent measures to deal with the COVID-19, Senator Christopher Go said early yesterday.

The act, entitled the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, was passed by the Congress following a marathon special session Monday.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in an earlier statement that the law grants “stand-by powers to the president to carry out effectively the national policy of stopping the spread of the novel coronavirus disease which has endangered the lives of the Filipino people.”

Among others, the law authorized the president to expedite and streamline the accreditation of testing kits, facilitate prompt testing of suspected cases and provide emergency subsidy to 18 million low-income families in the country.

The measure also empowered the president to temporarily direct the operations of “privately owned hospitals, medical and health facilities including passenger vessels and other establishments” when the public interest requires. (Xinhua)