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ANNOUNCEMENT: In light of the alarming increase in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and as an additional precautionary measure,…
Posted by the Philippine House of Representatives on Wednesday March 17, 2021
MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives has been temporarily blocked due to the increase in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Metro Manila.
In a notice early Thursday morning, the lower house public affairs office announced that a temporary closure will be imposed on Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City from March 18 (Thursday) to March 21 (Sunday).
“In view of the alarming increase in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and as an additional precautionary measure, the House of Representatives will impose a temporary closure from Thursday, March 18, 2021 until Sunday, March 21, 2021,” it said the office.
“Everyone is ordered to stay home during the lockdown not only to protect us, but also to help stop the spread of the virus,” he added.
During the four-day shutdown, House members and accredited media can attend committee hearings and other events in the House via online video conferencing, the office said.
Currently, committee hearings are held online or through a hybrid setup in which some members are physically present at Batasan while others attend via video conferencing.
Meanwhile, sessions are held under a hybrid configuration in which a small number of members are physically present in the plenary hall while the remaining members of the House attend and vote by videoconference.
House Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza said that as of March 16, there are 29 active cases of COVID-19 among its members and staff.
However, he clarified that this count only includes those who tested positive for COVID-19 in the tests carried out in Batasan.
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