Zubiri eyes in-person sessions at Senate

(FILE) Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri —Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Juan Miguel Zubiri is eyeing face-to-face or in-person sessions at the Senate for the 19th Congress.

Zubiri on Wednesday said that only those who will test positive for COVID-19 or were exposed to a COVID-19 patient will be exempted from physically going to work.

He stressed that if children could attend in-person classes, then adults could also physically report for work.

READ: DepEd prods all schools to resume 100% face-to-face classes for SY 2022-23

“We also discussed the hybrid session kasi nagsu-surge na ng COVID-19. Ang sabi ko lang sa kanila, ‘’yung mga anak ko nga nagfe-face-to-face classes. Nakakahiya naman ‘yung mga tatay at nanay nagtatago sa bahay’,” he said in an ambush interview at the Senate.

(We also discussed the hybrid session since COVID-19 cases are increasing. I told them, “my kids have face-to-face classes. It’s embarrassing that their parents are at home.”)

“I think if the kids can go to face-to-face classes, I think we can go to work. Exemption, may exemption lang ‘pag (there is an exemption if they are) COVID-positive or COVID-exposed, they can do work at home,” he added.

Zubiri lamented the challenges of passing a bill at home and discussing issues through the video communications application Zoom.

“Napakahirap kasi magpasa ng batas ‘pag wala ‘yung mga members at ‘pag Zoom naman, mahirap din dahil ‘yung bakbakan sa Zoom hindi mo pwede i-pause at pakiusapan sila under a huddle system na pwede break muna, pag-usapan natin ano pwedeng compromise. ‘Pag Zoom kasi mahirap gawin,” he explained.

(It is difficult to pass a law when there are no members. It is also tricky if you cannot pause it via Zoom and ask them to huddle to compromise.)

In May 2020, the Senate allowed sessions and hearings to be conducted online due to the threat of COVID-19.

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