The Senate leadership on Thursday (May 26) decided to do away with face masks and to allow face-to-face sessions or committee hearings starting Monday.

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III made the decision upon the advice of Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiiri as the emergency situation triggered by Covid-19 no longer exists.

Zubiri said his children would be attending face-to-face classes starting June 1.

The threat of infection in the country has improved, prompting health officials to reduce the threat to Level 1.

The Senate leadership had padlocked the Senate and later mandated the adherence to health protocols, including the use of face masks, when the number of infections had reached high levels.

Senators and others had been mandated to go through medical tests to avoid infection at the Senate complex. Some of the senators had been infected by Covid-19.

Because of the health emergency situation, Sotto said the Senate was forced to follow Senate Rule XI which states that due to ‘force majeure (irresistible compulsion or greater force),’ meetings and committee hearings may use teleconferencing or any other form of remote electronic systems based on a decision of a majority of the senators who might be prevented from attending physically.

Since there is no more emergency, there will be no more hybrid meetings or committee hearings and senators will no longer be asked to wear masks.

This will also show to the people ‘’that we are working,’’ Sotto said.

Today, the Senate rushed the passage of national and local bills and approval of committee reports.

The Senate is on a two-week regular session and adjourns sine die on June 3.