Resumption of session in Senate unhindered by COVID-19

The Senate formally opened its second regular session on Monday ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte's 5th State of the Nation Address in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seventeen senators were physically present at the plenary hall while six attended virtually—Senators Richard Gordon, Imee Marcos, Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, Manny Pacquiao, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, and Cynthia Villar.

Social distancing was observed in the venue, with barriers placed in between the seats of senators. Lawmakers also wore face masks as they entered the Senate premises.

Among the priority measures expected to be taken up under the second regular session are the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act which outlines a P140-billion economic stimulus package; and the proposed Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act which seeks to reduce corporate income tax to 25% from the current 30%.

The Department of Finance-endorsed Financial Institution Strategic Transfer (FIST) and Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) bills will also be given prime consideration.

All these measures are geared towards addressing the economic impact of the COVID-19 contagion.

The medical scholarship bill and the proposed Hybrid Election Act will also be prioritized, Senate President Vicente Sotto III previously said.

On the other hand, several senators said Charter change will not likely be taken up, especially as the country is dealing with the pandemic.

Senate inquiries on the alleged corruption in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), as well as on the supposed deaths of New Bilibid Prison inmates due to COVID-19 are also expected to take place.

The "hybrid" sessions and hearings, which had been practiced since May, would continue as long as the state of emergency due to COVID-19 remains.

To ensure the safety of the conduct of the SONA participants, only eight senators are allowed to be physically present at Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday afternoon.

Sotto, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senators Pia Cayetano, Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, Sherwin Gatchalian, Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Bong Revilla, and Francis Tolentino are expected to be there—having been subjected to swab tests on Sunday. Test results are expected to be out by noontime.

They will also take the rapid antibody test before entering the House's Session Hall for the SONA.

The rest of the senators will remotely monitor Duterte's address in which a clear COVID-19 masterplan is expected to be tackled. — RSJ, GMA News