Congress opens 2nd regular session amid Covid-19 crisis

THE Senate and the House of Representatives on Monday, July 27, 2020, opened the second regular session of the 18th Congress, several hours ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona).

At the Senate, a hybrid session saw six senators joining the session virtually while 17 others, led by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, physically attended the session. Detained Senator Leila de Lima is still not allowed to attend the session.

Transparent barriers have been installed between the seats at the Senate session hall to prevent transmission of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Sotto, in his opening speech, said the Upper Chamber will be passing laws that will answer the question “how can we make the situation better for all Filipinos”.

The Senate is expected to pass the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, which was passed on second reading before the sine die adjournment in June 2020.

The measure seeks to extend the powers granted to President Rodrigo Duterte under Republic Act No. 11469, or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, to carry out national policies in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“In this moment of crisis, our survival depends on how strong we fight this crisis together. We are thankful for the reported recoveries from the pandemic, we are saddened by the deaths of many, inspired by the heroism of our frontliners, but we must not lose hope,” he said.

In the previous regular session, Sotto said the Senate worked for the approval of various Covid-related measures that are now being implemented.

“Through our oversight powers, we will make sure that the programs laid out are followed to the letter and that transparency in the handling of funds is observed,” Sotto said.

For the second session, Sotto said the Senate will continue to tackle legislations in response to the pandemic. The agenda will focus on the following:

• Need to improve the digital landscape;
• Need to promote distance learning and help the education sector migrate to more plausible learning platforms;
• In order to revive the economy, there is a need for a safe, efficient and dependable public transport system;
• Encourage new businesses by reassessing tariffs so as to allow new ventures in a new business landscape to flourish; and
• Support for the arts to rebuild the nation in both body and soul.