Solon pushes for ‘virtual session’ amid coronavirus scare

By Jigger J. Jerusalem,
Correspondent

IN LIGHT of the coronavirus disease threat, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has proposed that lawmakers hold “virtual session” in discussing legislative matters pertaining to the Covid-19 as a measure to prevent the further spread of the infection.

“I am suggesting that the House and the Senate meet in a special session through video-teleconferencing and other technological means since President Duterte has prohibited mass gatherings and banned travel from the provinces to Metro Manila,” Rodriguez, this city’s second district congressman, said in a statement Sunday (March 15).

He said both chambers of Congress should set up the telecommunications infrastructure to enable their members to hold online discussions on bills and matters that have to do with addressing the coronavirus pandemic.

Rodriguez said he has come up with the idea since an assembly of 300 legislators at the House plenary hall is considered a “mass gathering” that is not permitted under Duterte’s order.

Added to this, he said, is the fact that lawmakers from outside Metro Manila could not travel due the lockdown being imposed on the national capital region by the government starting Sunday and is expected to expire April 14.

“The prudent thing to do is to stay home and work from home to avoid getting infected by this virus. This is much like telecommuting or working from home via computer technologies, which a 2018 law encourages the private sector to do lessen traffic congestion and so much inconvenience on the part of employees,” he added.

Rodriguez said members of Congress cannot wait until May 4, when they reconvene under their legislative calendar.

He said there is an urgent need for them to pass the proposed P1.7 billion fund augmentation that would allow the Department of Health to procure badly needed personal protective equipment for health workers and other supplies.

Rodriguez said they also have to tackle proposed stimulus packages for workers affected by the community quarantine in Metro Manila and other local government units, and for small businesses suffering from dwindling number of patrons who are understandably afraid of Covid-19.

To date, the lawmaker has filed three bills seeking a total of P23 billion in assistance for those affected by the coronavirus – P3 billion for distressed workers, P10 billion for small tourism-oriented establishments and another P10 billion for other small and medium-scale businesses.

“If we wait for May 4 to consider these measures, it might be too late to help the affected sectors,” he said.

He said House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano got the nod of the congressmen when he asked them if they are willing to work during the break.

Congress has adjourned its session for the Lenten recess on Wednesday night.

Rodriguez wanted this colleagues to deliberate on at least three House Bills he proposed that would assist those affected by the coronavirus.

HB 6612 proposes the appropriation of P10 billion to fund an emergency tourism stimulus program of the Department of Tourism to mitigate the effects of Covid-10 in the tourism sector.

HB 6613 is for the appropriation of P3 billion as emergency employment program of the Department of Labor and employment the benefit the wage earners;

HB 6614 is a proposal to appropriate P10 billion for the country’s business sector.