MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has been placed on temporary lockdown due to the increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Metro Manila.
In an advisory early Thursday morning, the lower chamber’s public affairs office announced that a temporary lockdown is imposed at Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City starting March 18 (Thursday) until March 21 (Sunday).
“In view of the alarming increase in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and as an added precautionary measure, the House of Representatives will impose a temporary lockdown starting on Thursday, 18 March 2021 until Sunday, 21 March 2021,” the office said.
“Everyone is enjoined to stay at home during the lockdown not just to protect ourselves but also to help arrest the spread of the virus,” it added.
During the four-day lockdown, House members and accredited media can attend committee hearings and other events in the House through online videoconferencing, the office said.
Currently, committee hearings are being conducted online or through a hybrid set-up wherein some members are physically present in Batasan while others are attending through videoconferencing.
Meanwhile, sessions are being conducted under a hybrid set-up where a small number of members are physically present in the plenary hall while the remaining House members attend and vote through videoconferencing.
House Secretary – General Mark Llandro Mendoza said that as of March 16, there are 29 active COVID-19 cases among its members and staff.
He, however, clarified that this count only includes those who tested positive for COVID-19 in the testing being conducted in Batasan.