Senate extends lockdown past Holy Week until April 12

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will extend its lockdown until April 12 due to the rise in the number of its employees with COVID-19, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Wednesday.

This revised his announcement a day before that the lockdown would remain during the Holy Week.

“There will be no one here in the Senate until April 12 unless the body deems to call for something very urgent, [like an] earth-shaking hearing,” Sotto said during Wednesday’s plenary session.

The Senate has been on lockdown since last week, but it allowed proceedings inside its building in Pasay City on Wednesday to accommodate hearings of the Commission on Appointments (CA) and to pass local bills during the afternoon session.

“Starting tomorrow, it will be under lockdown until after Holy Week. After Holy Week, there will be another week [of the lockdown] continuing,” Sotto said.

Only virtual hearings will be allowed during the lockdown.

According to a separate advisory issued to Senate officers and employees, a minimum operational capacity of 30 percent will be implemented once work resumes on April 12.

Should the Committee of the Whole probe into issues concerning pork importation and other agriculture matters push through during the lockdown, only officers and employees whose services will be needed are required to report for work.

[atm]