The House of Representatives is "closely monitoring" the local and international Covid-19 situation roughly two months before President Marcos' scheduled State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Thus, said Secretary General Reginald Velasco, top civilian official of the House of Representatives in Batasan, the annual site of the SONA.
"The medical team of the House of Representatives is monitoring the health conditions in and outside the country," Velasco told reporters amid reports on the discovery of new Covid-19 variants abroad.
"As of now, there are no changes in the protocols for SONA in terms of medical measures," he noted.
"While Covid-19 cases have generally declined from January to May 2025 compared to last year, and also in the past 3–4 weeks, we continue to monitor the situation closely," added Velasco.
The House held its first coordination meeting with journalists regarding the SONA coverage last week. Refurbishments and renovations are also ongoing at Batasan complex.
At any rate, Velasco said that the House "will issue updates if any adjustments are needed".
"As the Secretary of Health has always reminded the public, it’s still important to practice basic health measures such as wearing masks when necessary, frequent handwashing and building up your immunity especially with the unpredictable weather conditions that may affect our health," the House official further said.
President Marcos will deliver his fourth SONA at the House plenary Hall before a joint session of Congress on July 28.
The House of Representatives imposed strict Covid-19 testing protocols during the height of the pandemic.