Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 4) – As Congress resumed its sessions today, lawmakers can now participate in hearings and sessions via teleconferencing in the next days to come.
Both chambers of Congress – the Senate and the House of Representatives – adopted a resolution and motions that would allow lawmakers utilize telecommunications technology under the new normal brought by the pandemic.
Senate adopted a resolution allowing senators to participate in hearings and sessions through teleconferencing. However, this will only apply for simple committee hearings and physical presence is still necessary for inquiries and aid of legislation.
Meanwhile, the House adopted two separate motions by Majority Leader Martin Romualdez that would allow lawmakers and members of the chamber to register their attendance through text or chat, and participate through electronic means. The lower chamber only allows 25 lawmakers inside the plenary.
The House also approved another motion by Romualdez allowing committees to conduct meetings through teleconferencing.
Only 15 senators were physically present earlier, while five other senators including Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Sonny Angara, Risa Hontiveros, and Cynthia Villar attended the session via video chat.
In the House, 25 were only allowed to attend the session and 301 others also attended the first day of resumption through video teleconferencing.
