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Velasco orders four-day lockdown as lower house COVID-19 cases rise
Velasco orders four-day lockdown as lower house COVID-19 cases rise
Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has declared a four-day lockdown of the House of Representatives as more employees and lawmakers test positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, together with Reps. Michael Defensor (Anakalusugan) and Jocelyn Limkaichong (NPC, Negros Oriental), was among those infected by the dreaded virus.
At least 27 employees from various congressional and administrative offices have also tested positive for the disease.
Velasco issued the lockdown directive on Wednesday night, March 17, to House Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza.
At almost the same time, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III also ordered suspension of session and work in the Upper House until March 23.
Sotto also cited the surge in COVID-19 cases as a major factor in making the decision.
Velasco told Mendoza that the lockdown should be strictly implemented.
During the four-day holiday, all offices and conference halls at the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City will be disinfected.
“We have decided to place the entire Batasan Complex on a temporary lockdown from March 18 to 21 as a precautionary measure to protect the health and safety of House members and employees in view of the alarming increase in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila,” Velasco said.
The House leader also reiterated his appeal to the public to remain vigilant and continue all public health precautions against COVID-19, which has already killed 12,866 out of the 635,698 infections nationwide as of March 17.
“Now, more than ever, it is important to continue to maintain proper physical distancing, and practice good hygiene, as well as wear face mask and face shield,” Velasco said. “These are small steps that will surely help us in a big way to protect ourselves and our loved ones from contracting the virus as we continue the battle against this deadly disease. So please don’t let your guard down.”
In his announcement Wednesday night, Velasco enjoined lawmakers and employees to stay at home during the four-day lockdown “not just to protect ourselves, but also to help arrest the spread of the virus.” “The House Members and the employees concerned will have access through the usual Zoom and livestreaming platforms during the scheduled committee meetings, public hearings and other events in the House of Representatives during the four-day lockdown,” the announcement also stated.