No House lockdown as COVID-19 cases are ‘controlled, manageable’– SecGen

House of Representatives. INQUIRER file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — There is no need to place the House of Representatives on lockdown as its COVID-19 cases are “controlled and manageable,”  Secretary-General Mark Llandro Mendoza said Wednesday.

“No need naman, nasabi naman ni Speaker (Lord Allan Velasco) at ng mga members na hindi naman kailangan i-lockdown kasi two weeks na lang naman na,” Mendoza said in an interview with reporters when asked on the possibility of the Batasang Pambansa Complex being placed on lockdown.

(There’s no need, the Speaker and the members said that there’s no need to place on lockdown because we have only two weeks left.)

“Gusto na rin tapusin nila Speaker and mga members yung measures bago mag-break. At controlled naman at nama-manage yung situation dito sa House,” he added, as House members are set to go on a break on March 27.

(The Speaker and the members want to pass the measures before going on break. The situation here is controlled and is being managed.)

Mendoza earlier disclosed that there are 29 active COVID-19 cases in the lower chamber of Congress.

But the House Secretary-General also disclosed that they are waiting for the results of 10 of the 29 cases if they are already cleared of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Senate was placed under “complete lockdown” on Tuesday, after an employee, who reported for work on Monday morning, tested positive for COVID-19.

/MUF