Senate adopts ‘hybrid’ sessions amid Covid-19 crisis

MANILA – The Senate adopted on Monday a resolution allowing plenary sessions and committee hearings through teleconferencing while the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is still in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

With 15 senators physically present, the chamber adopted Senate Resolution No. 372 which amended Rule XI, Section 22 and Rule XIV, Section 41 of the Rules of the Senate.

Under the amended rules, the Senate “may conduct sessions, meetings or hearings through teleconference, video conference, or other reliable forms of remote or electronic means,” using appropriate information and communications technology systems “in case when there is force majeure” or occurrence of a national emergency.

During the course of hybrid plenary sessions, senators may vote, sponsor committee reports, and participate during the interpellation and period of amendments, regardless if their attendance is physical or online.

The senators who physically attended the reopening of session on Monday were Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senators Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Ronald Dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino, Sherwin Gatchalian, Panfilo Lacson, Joel Villanueva, Grace Poe, Manny Pacquiao, Richard Gordon, Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla and Nancy Binay.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Pia Cayetano, Sonny Angara, Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, Francis Pangilinan, and Risa Hontiveros immediately joined the proceedings online after the rules were amended.

Prior to the resumption of sessions, Sotto said he would attend sessions physically until Congress adjourns on June 5, 2020.

“Kailangang may mag-preside (Somebody has to preside) from the Senate session hall, and being the Senate President, I have the responsibility to ensure that all sessions are conducted as mandated by the Rules of the Senate and by the Constitution,” Sotto said.

Members of the Senate Secretariat “who have primary functions during sessions” are also required to physically come to the Senate to perform their functions.

On the other hand, Sotto said senators who will virtually attend the sessions will have to inform the Senate Secretariat in advance for their attendance to be counted.

However, members of media are still barred from physically covering Senate proceedings to limit the number of people in the Senate building.

President Rodrigo Duterte had extended the ECQ in Metro Manila and other parts of the country until May 15, as the number of Covid-19 cases in the country continue to rise following intensified testing procedures.

As of May 4, the Philippines recorded 9,485 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 623 deaths and 1,315 recoveries.