Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 3)— The House of Representatives will make good on the promise to enforce strict social distancing measures when session resumes on Monday, as the lower chamber is set to hold virtual hearings and meetings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the guidelines on operations released Sunday, the House will be conducting committee hearings, technical working group and administrative meetings, political caucuses, and press conferences through video conference.
A maximum of 25 lawmakers will be allowed inside the session hall during plenary sessions, while the rest of the members will be participating through video conference.
“The Majority and the Minority Floor Leaders shall adopt a system for choosing their Members who will be physically attending the sessions,” the document read.
The chamber will also abide by the general health rules— including physical distancing (at least two-meter distance between people), regular temperature checks, and face mask policy, among others— to help combat the spread of the infectious disease.
Earlier, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the public can expect to see fewer chairs and tables set up at the plenary hall, similar to the special session set-up on March 23 when lawmakers passed the bill giving President Rodrigo Duterte special powers to realign the 2020 budget for COVID-19 response through the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
Only a handful of members physically attended the session, while the rest joined in through online video conference application Zoom.
The Senate, on the other hand, is also seeking to pass a resolution which would allow lawmakers to hold sessions, hearings, and meetings via teleconferencing.
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To date, the Philippines has recorded 8,928 cases of COVID-19, including 603 fatalities and 1,124 recoveries.
CNN Philippines’ Xianne Arcangel and Melissa Lopez contributed to this report.
