Senate mulls suspending sessions during ECQ

Members of the Senate are considering suspending plenary sessions in light of the reimposition of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila from August 6 to 20.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri disclosed that the chamber might suspend sessions from August 9 to 11.

"We will still hold sessions but we might suspend from August 9 to 11," Zubiri told reporters in Filipino Friday, July 30.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the senators will decide next week.

" Will have sessions next week then we will decide therefter," Sotto said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, supported the government's decision to place anew the National Capital Region (NCR) under ECQ.

"Health comes first. The Delta variant is here and it's spread could mean thousands of lives lost before we even realize it," Lacson said in a separate text message sent to reporters.

"While the country's economy will surely take another round of beating, we should all support this move by the national government," he added.

President Duterte has approved a recommendation to impose anew the strictest quarantine classification over Metro Manila to control the surge of Delta coronavirus variant infections in the region.

Metro Manila is under general community quarantine with "heightened and additional restrictions" until August 5.

Last March 29, Metro Manila and four provinces in the so-called "NCR Plus" bubble were placed under ECQ, which was extended to April 11.