Senate and House on lockdown until January 16

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 4:34 p.m.) — The House of Representatives will remain on lockdown until next week amid increasing COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco (Marinduque) said Friday.

In a statement, Velasco said they decided to extend the lockdown until January 16 "as a precautionary measure to protect the health and safety of House members and employees in view of an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases in [the National Capital Region] and adjacent provinces."

The House has been on lockdown since January 4.

With the extension of House lockdown, work will resume on January 17, Velasco said. This is also when the legislature is expected to convene for its first plenary session since the holiday break.

The House however will only allow 20% of each office’s workforce to report on-site starting January 17.

Velasco also said House Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza was already instructed to ensure strict implementation of the lockdown.

Lawmakers and employees reporting from work meanwhile have been assured of continued access to virtual committee meetings, public hearings and other Houe events during the lockdown period.

Senate goes on lockdown 

Senate President Tito Sotto III on Friday afternoon said the chamber will also go on lockdown next week, until January 16 after 46 employees tested positive for COVID-19.

There are still 175 staff who are under quarantine and waiting for their test results, following to exposure to confirmed cases and manifestation of symptoms, Sotto added.

Earlier on Friday, Sens. Sherwin Gatchalian and Panfilo Lacson said they also tested positive for the coronavirus and are in isolation.

Gatchalian said he is experiencing mild symptoms and encouraged the public to get their booster jabs. "[T]his goes to show that the vaccines are effective and are working against it," he added.

Lacson, also a presidential aspirant and Sotto’s running-mate, said he has already informed his close contacts on January 3 so they can take precautions.

"Thank God no one is exhibiting symptoms. Wearing our masks helped much," he added in a tweet.

On Thursday, Lacson said he recovered from sore throat, cough and cold while still waiting for his RT-PCR test results. — Kristine Joy Patag