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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider SONA to follow hybrid set-up despite lifting of Covid-19 public health emergency status, says House exec

SONA to follow hybrid set-up despite lifting of Covid-19 public health emergency status, says House exec

Published Jul 22, 2023 08:48 am
The House plenary. (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)




A "hybrid" or mixed virtual and face-to-face set-up would still be observed at the House of Representatives on Monday, July 24, the day of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. This, despite news Saturday, July 22, of the President’s issuance of Proclamation No. 297, which lifts the Philippines' Covid-19 public health emergency status. "Yes po", replied House Secretary General Reginald Velasco on Saturday afternoon when asked if the hybrid scheme would still be followed during Monday's proceedings. At 10 a.m. Monday, House members and senators will convene in a joint session at Batasan Complex in Quezon City to formally open the second regular session of the 19th Congress after a two-month recess. Then, at around 4 p.m., President Marcos will deliver his SONA in the same joint session, which will take place at the plenary hall of Batasan Complex. Batasan is the home turf of the House of Representatives. In the weeks leading up to the big event, Velasco had repeatedly raised the possibility of the House going into a full face-to-face set-up once the Covid-19 public health emergency is lifted by the national government. "Kasi (Because) once the restrictions are lifted, we will have the face-to-face na in our plenary. That means, wala na yung mga Zoom meetings (There would be no more Zoom meetings). Everyone should be present physically," Velasco told House reporters in an interview Thursday, July 20. "Yun naman ang goal natin na eventually (That is the goal eventually), we'd be back to normal, face-to-face, everybody will be coming here," he added. But when asked if the hybrid set-up would be ditched in House sessions following the SONA, Velasco said there was no decision yet. For over three years, House members or congressmen have tapped teleconferencing as a way of continuing their work amid restrictions caused by the Covid-19. As of last week, antigen testing for visitors was still being carried out at the House.

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hybrid State of the Nation Address reginald velasco House of Representatives face-to-face State of public health emergency
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