Virtual sessions eyed at House amid Covid-19 threat: Cayetano

During a virtual press briefing on Friday, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano raised the possibility of holding virtual sessions once Congress resumes from its Lenten break on May 4, if the Covid-19 crisis persists. (File Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – Talks for a virtual holding of sessions at the House of Representatives are in the offing as the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) threat and social distancing measures create a “new normal” for how institutions operate.

During a virtual press briefing on Friday, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano raised the possibility of holding virtual sessions once Congress resumes from its Lenten break on May 4, if the Covid-19 crisis persists.

“We are all adapting. Congress is alive. Congress will be there for you. Congress will be your voice. Congress will work day and night with the Executive branch and with anyone who wants to work with us,” he said.

“So as far as the pragmatic side, kung may danger pa rin sa virus, virtual pa rin yung session (if the virus still poses a danger, the session would still be virtual),” he added.

Aside from the proposed digital shift, Cayetano noted that he has talked with Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri to also look at the legislative calendar for possible changes.

“Sabi niya (Zubiri) na we might have to look at the calendar depende nga sa nangyayari sa Covid-19. So habang papalapit ang May 4, tsaka natin pag-usapan yan (He said that we might have to look at the calendar depending on the Covid-19 situation. So as May 4 approaches, that’s the time we would discuss it),” he said.

On March 23, the House of Representatives convened in a special session to tackle a measure declaring a national emergency and granting President Rodrigo Duterte additional powers to address the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

It was the first time in the chamber’s history to hold a “virtual” session to strictly observe social distancing measures amid the imposition of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.