Senate back to work, vows to remain as vanguard of nat'l health crisis
The 24-member Senate formally opened at 10 a.m. Monday the second regular session of the 18th Congress with 17 senators physically present and six virtually present.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri led their colleagues in the traditional opening of the regular session that lasted 26 minutes.
They later informed the House of Representatives and President Duterte that they had a quorum and are ready to hear the Chief Executive's State-of-the-Nation Address.
As the nation reels from COVID-19, Sotto, in a 13-minute speech, said that senators are keeping their eyes on the Lord and assured the Filipino nation that they would remain at the vanguard of the national health crisis.
Sotto said the Senate has responded and is ready to do more.
‘’Very well said,’’ Zubiri said of Sotto’s speech.
Zubiri also thanked his colleagues for a ‘’job well done’’ in the past regular session.