Senate holds 1st fully in-person session since May 2020

The Senate holds its first completely in-person session since May 2020 on Monday, May 23, 2022. Senate screengrab

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Monday resumed its first completely in-person session since it adopted a hybrid set-up in May 2020.

Eighteen senators were present during Monday afternoon’s session.

Last week, Senate President Vicente Sotto III ruled that hybrid sessions will no longer be allowed starting this week amid easing COVID-19 restrictions.

READ: No more hybrid Senate sessions in remaining days of 18th Congress

“It is nice to see the Senate at full house again,” Senate Majority Juan Miguel Zubiri said.

It was in May 2020 when the Senate adopted Senate Resolution No. 372 that amended the upper chamber’s rules to allow official proceedings through teleconferencing and other electronic means in the event that a force majeure or the occurrence of a national emergency would prevent the convening of the Senate or the physical presence of its members in the session hall.

The upper chamber is set to approve several bills for third and final reading, including measures seeking to increase the monthly social pension for indigent senior citizens and to exempt from income tax election honoraria for poll workers.

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