After roughly two years, the House of Representatives is allowing for the first time the in-person coverage of a committee meeting on Monday morning, March 7.
This was confirmed in a Viber message to reporters by the House media bureau on late Sunday night, March 6.
"The House leadership has decided to open to all -accredited media networks to cover physically the Fuel Crisis Ad Hoc Committee meeting tomorrow (Monday)," read the message.
It can be recalled that virtual meetings or hearings via Zoom became the norm in the lower chamber beginning March 2020 or when the Covid-19 pandemic was first announced.
The in-person coverage Monday arguably reflects two things: the easing of protocols due to the recent deescalation of Metro Manila to Alert Level 1, and the perceived importance of the ad hoc panel meeting.
Formed by no less than House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, the ad hoc panel has been tasked to come up with recommendations on how to best tackle the skyrocketing prices of fuel and how to give Filipino consumers relief from it.
The panel was created amid the possible request of special sessions from President Duterte, precisely to effect consumer relief by way of legislation. The lawmakers are currently on recess due to election-related activities.
The media practitioners who will cover tomorrow's proceedings at the House in Batasan, Quezon City will have to undergo an antigen test, the House media bureau said.
Those who will test negative will be allowed to cover, although the "no roaming around" rule will be observed.
The fuel crisis meeting will begin 9:30 a.m.