No House plenary sessions during ECQ period – Velasco

House of Representatives. INQUIRER file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives will not hold plenary sessions during the period of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila.

In a memorandum released by House Secretary-General Mark Llandro Mendoza, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco ordered the suspension of plenary sessions and that all meetings shall be held via video-conferencing only from August 6-20, when the National Capital Region reverts to ECQ.

All congressional offices shall also be closed during the ECQ period and only Office of the Secretariat personnel with “extremely essential tasks” shall be allowed to report physically to the office, the memorandum added.

Meanwhile, the memorandum stated that for August 3-4, office hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with sessions starting at 2 p.m. and ending at 5 p.m.

“The threat of this Delta variant is real, as evidenced by the surge in cases in certain regions around the world,” Velasco said in a statement.

“By suspending regular office work and other preventive measures, we hope to contribute to the government’s effort in preventing a surge of infection that could possibly put our health care system in serious jeopardy,” he added.

Velasco assured the public that the measures implemented will not prevent the chamber from performing its tasks.

“Vital measures can still be tackled as committee hearings will still be held via remote,” Velasco said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier approved the proposal of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and NCR mayors to place Metro Manila under ECQ from August 6-20.

KGA