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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Senators postpone session, hearings over COVID-19 fears

Senators postpone session, hearings over COVID-19 fears

Published Mar 9, 2020 12:00 am
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola Senate members have decided to postpone their session on Tuesday (March 10) amid fears over the increasing number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the country. Senate of the Philippines building (Senate of the Philippines official Facebook) Senate of the Philippines building (Senate of the Philippines official Facebook) Senator Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri announced this before moving to adjourn their Monday session. The suspension was agreed upon in an emergency meeting of senators earlier in the afternoon, he said. "Our agreement in the caucus that to help in the avoidance of the transmission of COVID-19...we suspend session until Wednesday, one o'clock ," the Senate majority leader said. The resumption on March 11, he explained, would allow the members of the Upper Chamber to conduct and attend hearings of the Commission on Appointments, as well as the appointment body's plenary session in the afternoon. "Because many would be bypassed if we do not conduct the hearings on Wednesday morning," Zubiri said, alluding to Congress' legislative break set to start next week. It was also agreed that Senate staff and employees "do not necessarily have to come to work" under the discretion of senators. The public would also be "refrained from visiting the Senate premises at this time." "We must be very careful at these trying times," Zubiri said. Zubiri said committee hearings scheduled for Wednesday may proceed "at own risk." Sen. Joel Villanueva decided to cancel the public hearing of the labor committee tomorrow, but asked for the resource persons to submit their position papers so they could still continue studying pending bills. Sen. Richard Gordon also opted to hold off the justice committee's hearing on the issues relating to the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) granted to convicts, but would still push through with his other hearing on the government's stockpiling of face masks and other medical supplies in the morning. Sens. Francis Tolentino amd Sherwin Gatchalian wanted to proceed with their respective committee hearings tomorrow morning, but said they will consult Senate President Vicente Sotto III about it. The Department of Health on Monday announced that there are 10 more confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of coronavirus infections in the country to 20.
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