Congress resumes sessions today but only 25 members of the House of Representatives are allowed to physically participate in the plenary session while the rest will attend the session through video conferencing.
Office of the House Secretary General Atty. Jose Luis Montales has issued a seven-page memorandum providing guidelines on the House’s operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Based on the guidelines, House leadership is expected to adopt a system to choose the House members who will physically attend the session.
“The procedures used during the special session shall govern attendance, debates, and all other aspects of a session,” according to the guidelines.
The House conducted its virtual plenary session last March 23 when they passed its version of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
Only 25 people, including Secretariat employees, media personnel, and guests shall be allowed inside the Session Hall, it said.
Montales has sought the strict implementation of operational guidelines “that are designed to balance the continuing performance of the institution’s functions and the provision of necessary protection for its members, employees, and the general public.”
He said the House will be imposing restrictions, limitations, and changes “for everyone’s safety.”
“Activities have to be restricted, personal interactions limited, and work arrangements and processes changed,” Montales said.
Based on the guidelines, committee hearings, technical working group meetings, administrative meetings, political caucuses, and press conferences will be conducted through video conferencing.
A physical meeting or a combination of physical meeting and video conferencing with the number of physically-attending participants will be allowed “for compelling reasons.”
Under the guidelines, the House will strictly implement the no-face-mask, no-entry policy, and the protocols on social distancing.
“There could be gaps in these guidelines – confusion and misunderstanding, even. Please bear with us and with each other as we all try to adjust to the new normal and to the changing circumstances,” Montales said. (Charissa L. Atienza)
