Senators, staff to undergo COVID-19 rapid tests before plenary session

MANILA, Philippines — Senators will undergo rapid testing for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) before they resume session Monday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Juan Mguel Zubiri said.

In a teleconference with reporters, Zubiri said Senator Panfilo Lacson will be bringing rapid test kits to the Senate.

“Magpapa-rapid test kami mamayang hapon. Si Senator Lacson, magdadala ng maraming rapid test kits,” he said.

According to Zubiri, the senators who would be attending the plenary session would undergo the rapid testing during a caucus at around 2 p.m.

The senators’ staff would also undergo rapid testing, he added.

The Philippine Red Cross, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, would be on stand by for PCR-based confirmatory testing should the result of the rapid test of any senators or their staff yield a positive result.

Zubiri said 13 senators confirmed their physical attendance in Monday’s session.

Aside from himself, Gordon and Lacson, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, and Senators Lito Lapid, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Manny Pacquiao, Sherwin Gatchalian, Christopher “Bong” Go, Ronald “Bato dela Rosa, Joel Villanueva and Nancy Binay will be attending the session physically.

During the session, the Senate is expected to adopt a resolution seeking to amend the Senate rules to allow official proceedings through teleconferencing amid restrictions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A resolution expressing condolences to the family of the former Senator Heherson Alvarez, who died of COVID-19 last April 20, is also expected to be adopted.

EDV