Section 3Sec./Art. 3

Declaration of Policy.- It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty, particularly in the aftermath of natural and man-made disasters, through policies that provide adequate social services, and promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all. Towards this end, and in cognizance of the Adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the Philippine economy and society, the State shall likewise establish mechanisms to achieve the following objectives:

(a) Reduce the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the socioeconomic well-being of all Filipinos through the provision of assistance, subsidies, and other forms of socioeconomic relief;

(b) Consolidate, update, and validate existing records, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in coordination with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and the Philippine Statistics Authority including local government units (LGUs), to come up with a comprehensive, up to date, and unified database to effectively implement the provision of socioeconomic relief intended for all Filipinos by properly identifying the recipients thereof;

(c) Sustain efforts to test, trace, isolate, and treat COVID-19 cases to mitigate the transmission of the disease and prevent further loss of lives;

(d) Enhance the capacity of the Philippine health care system to eliminate, prevent, and control disease outbreaks and pandemics and mitigate the effects of other health or life-threatening concerns by ensuring budgetary support for health care;

(e) Mitigate the economic cost and losses stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic;

(f) Restore public trust and confidence on social and economic institutions;

(g) Accelerate the recovery and bolster the resilience of the Philippine economy through measures grounded on economic inclusivity, and collective growth through fiscal sustainability;

(h) Accommodate alternative modes of transportation, including a network of bicycle lanes in all roads in every city, municipality, and province for the people who may opt to use the bicycle as an alternative mode of transportation to address health, environment, and traffic concerns;

(i) Promote and protect the collective interests of all Filipinos in these challenging times;

(j) Optimize the use of science, technology, and innovation in government's response measures;

(k) Enhance public trust in science and technology and incorporate the use of scientific research and technological expertise in the policy-making process; and

(1) Enhance the financial stability of the country to support government programs in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.