Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 2) – There will be no plenary sessions at the House of Representatives during the imposition of enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila from Aug. 6 to 20.
This was announced by House Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza in a memorandum issued on Monday, which stated that regular office work in the lower chamber will be suspended starting Aug. 5 “for the health and safety of House members and employees.”
All meetings will be conducted through videoconferencing and only Secretariat personnel with “extremely essential tasks” will be allowed to physically report to work, it said.
All congressional offices will also be closed during the two-week period.
However, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco assured pending measures in the chamber will still be tackled by members remotely.
The directive also stated that from Aug. 3 to 4, office hours at the House will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with sessions starting from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Earlier, the Senate also announced the suspension of its plenary sessions while the capital region is under hard lockdown.
READ: Senate suspends sessions during two-week Metro Manila ECQ
