On 3/16/20, President Duterte declared a state of calamity throughout the country and imposed a Community Quarantine (lockdown) throughout Luzon due to the increasing number of Covid19 patients. The lockdown stalled and/or disrupted economic activities affecting business and and the livelihood of Filipinos. To counter the adverse effects of the lockdown, Congress passed Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (RA 11469) giving President Duterte limited powers to, among others:

1. Authorize mandatory PhilHealth coverage to all COVID-19 patients.
2. Grant emergency as emergency cash aid of P5,000 to P8,000 for 2 months to 18 million low income households all over the country.
3. Grant health workers a special risk allowance on top of their regular hazard pay.
4. Authorized PhilHealth to shoulder all medical costs of health workers exposed to the coronavirus for the duration of the emergency.
5. Grant cash compensation of P100,000 to all health workers who may contract COVID-19 on duty, and P1 million to the family of health workers who may perish as a result of fighting the disease.
6. Grant 30 day grace period without incurring interests and penalties to pay banks and other financial institutions for loans/credit cards
7. Grant a 30-day grace period without interests and penalties on residential rents within the period of the lockdown et al.
8. Take-over private hospitals and establishments for the purpose of treating patients, housing and transporting health workers if they unjustifiably refuse or are incapable of operating during the crisis.
9. Ensure availability of credit at lower interest rates for production.
10. Provide incentives to manufacturers/importers of healthcare supplies.
11. Ensure unhampered supply chain of food and medicine.
12. Regulate transportation and traffic.
13. Authorize alternative work arrangements for both government and private sector.
14. Regulate the distribution and use of energy, fuel, and water, and ensure sufficient supply of these;

Any violation of the law, including spreading fake news and information on COVID-19 or take advantage of the current crisis, causing panic and chaos is punishable by imprisonment of two months or a fine of P10,000 to P1 million or both.