Only 20 members of the House of Representatives are allowed to be “physically present” to participate in the Special Session today while the rest will attend the session online.
This was disclosed by Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who earlier proposed a “virtual session” for Congress to expeditiously tackle and pass measures to contain the spread coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and to grant assistance to the sectors badly hit by the outbreak.
“Only 20 Congressmen have been chosen to be present at the Plenary Hall. The rest of us will join the online discussions and online voting,” he said.
“The names of the 20 Representatives have not been announced. The major political parties, including the party lists, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and the Minority bloc will be represented,” Rodriguez noted.
In an advisory, House Secretary General Jose Luis Montales informed the members of the House that they have arrived at a “painful decision to limit to 20 the number of Members who would be physically present at the Special Session on Monday, March 23, at 10 a.m.”
The decision was made “after consultations and deliberation, and with the permission” of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Majority Leader and Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez.
The advisory noted that some members of the Secretariat and the media need to attend the session as well.
“The total cannot exceed 50. We have explained to you in our previous messages the considerations, limitations, and challenges that bear upon this matter. Our decision is constrained by those parameters,” it said.
The advisory also laid down the options for members to log in their attendance, cast their vote, and even speak during the special session.
It said lawmakers will be invited to a Viber group chat, which will be used to cast their votes on Monday.
Realignment of
P275-B gov’t fund
Congress is set to authorize President Duterte to realign some P275 billion government funds to provide assistance to the affected communities, and strengthen the nation’s capacity to fight the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).
House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez expressed the Lower Chamber’s readiness to hold a Special Session today at 10 a.m. to ensure that the much-needed government resources will be mobilized to help contain the spread of COVID-19.
“Congress will be granting President Rodrigo Duterte the authority to specifically realign government funds for food, allowances to help the affected families, boost the medical requirements of the people and protection of those who are in the frontline especially our doctors, nurses and all medical personnel,” he said in a statement.
“We will provide enough logistics to help President Duterte ensure that millions of Filipinos now under enhanced community quarantine are fed and afforded with other supplies needed in these difficult times,” he added.
Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda said Congress will empower President Duterte to realign some P275 billion funds to fight COVID-19.
He noted that Duterte government is aiming to provide P8,000 assistance to 17.9 million Filipinos to sustain their food requirements during the enhanced community quarantine.
Senior citizens will be given nutritional supplements, he added. (Charissa Luci-Atienza)
