MANILA, Philippines 鈥� In the wake of the enhanced community quarantine triggered by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, senators took advantage of digital means to catch up and discuss their legislative agenda for when session resumes on May 4.
Senator Sonny Angara on Monday shared a photo taken by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri of the online meeting among senators more than a week before they are set to convene for the resumption of session.
鈥淶ooming w/ the senators #newnormal,鈥� Angara鈥檚 tweet read.
Zooming w/ the senators
鈥� Sonny Angara (@sonnyangara)
Aside from Angara and Zubiri, who both recovered from COVID-19, Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto were among the senators who joined the video conference.
Also in the Zoom meeting were Senators Nancy Binay, Christopher 鈥淏ong鈥� Go, Pia Cayetano, Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� dela Rosa, Richard Gordon, Lito Lapid, Joel Vllanueva, Imee Marcos, Manny Pacquiao, Grace Poe, Francis Tolentino, and Cynthia Villar.
Zooming w/ the senators
鈥� Sonny Angara (@sonnyangara)
In a message to reporters, Villanueva said the discussion among the senators focused on what resolutions and bills would be prioritized.
鈥淲e鈥檒l be there May 4 (to convene), may ilang mga (there are matters that are still) for discussion so I can鈥檛 say what would happen next,鈥� he said.
鈥淢ajority believes we should consider amending the rules to pave the way to conduct business even if not physically present,鈥� he added.
Hours before this, 15 senators filed and signed a resolution seeking to allow the Senate to conduct its plenary sessions and committee hearings via teleconferencing as Metro Manila remains under an enhanced community quarantine alongside several 鈥渉igh risk鈥� provinces.
鈥淭he imposition and extension of an enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region and specified provinces, until the 15th May 2020, and its attendant limitations should not prevent Congress from exercising its Constitutional mandate to enact laws and authorize appropriations, especially those necessary for the national government to respond to this national emergency the safety and well-being of the affected population,鈥� the resolution read.