Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday, July 19, called on his fellow senators to attend their plenary sessions in person when they resume sessions next week.
"I'm encouraging my colleagues particularly those who have been fully vaccinated and are not senior citizens to attend sessions through face to face interaction as much as possible so we can discuss issues and solutions quickly on the floor," Zubiri said in a statement sent to reporters.
"Having a few months of work left would make it more difficult to pass key legislation. Kaya sana all hands on deck tayo para maipasa natin ang mga mahahalagang panukala na kailangan nang ating bayan (That is why we must have all hands on deck for us to pass important bills that are needed by our country). " he appealed.
During the Laging Handa public briefing, the Senate leader said he favors holding physical plenary sessions, adding that he finds it "difficult" to facilitate them with members both present physically and virtually.
He, however, said "exemptions could be to our super senior citizens in their 70s", citing the threat of the novel coronavirus disease's (COVID-19) Delta variant in the Philippines.
"But we will respect the majority of our colleagues kung hindi pa nila gusto (if they do still do not want it)," he said.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III also said that while they would consider protocol issued by the government's interagency task force, "I expect most senators to be physically present."
Senators will meet next week to discuss their plans in resuming the third regular session, Zubiri said.