Senators eye amending rules to allow session teleconferencing

MANILA, Philippines — Fifteen senators are seeking to amend Senate rules to dispense with the physical presence requirement in the holding of sessions and committee hearings, and allow teleconferencing in conducting legislative proceedings amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

The lawmakers filed Senate Resolution 372 seeking to amend Rule XI, Section 22, and Rule XIV, Section 41 of the chamber’s rules, saying that Article VI, Section 16 of the Constitution allows the two chambers of Congress to craft their own rules.

Congress is set to resume session on May 4.

“The imposition and extension of an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region and specified provinces until the 15th of May 2020, and its attendant limitations should not prevent Congress from exercising its constitutional mandate to enact laws and authorize appropriations, especially those necessary for the national government to respond to this national emergency while ensure the safety and well-being of the affected population,” the resolution read.

The senators said the ECQ prohibits mass gatherings, and mandates the suspension of mass transport facilities, observance of strict home quarantine in all households, and restrictions on movement and travel except those relating to accessing basic necessities like food and medicines, or the provision of health and emergency frontline services, border control, banking and finance, public utilities, and other critical services.

Despite the ECQ and other government interventions, the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, and is expected to increase even more as the government engages in mass testing, the senators said.

Section 22 of Rule XI was proposed to allow committees to hold hearings or meetings through “teleconference, video conference, or other reliable forms of remote or electronic means,” using appropriate information and communications technology systems in case “there is force majeure or occurrence of an emergency which may prevent the lawmakers from physically attending committee hearings or hearings.”

Sec. 41 of Rule XIV is proposed to allow the Senate president – in consultation with the majority and minority leaders – to postpone the holding of the plenary session on a day-to-day basis, and with the consent of the House of Representatives, hold a joint session through teleconferencing, video conferencing, or “other reliable forms of remote or electronic means, using appropriate information and communications technology systems.”

The Senate secretary was tasked under the resolution to protect the integrity of the sessions and other legislative proceedings, and archiving the same to make them part of the chamber’s records.

Signing the resolution were Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Pia Cayetano, Ronald dela Rosa, Sherwin Gatchalian, Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, Manny Pacquiao, Grace Poe, Bong Revilla, Joel Villanueva and Cynthia Villar.