(May 11, 2020) On May 4, 2020, the Philippine Senate approved a resolution allowing for plenary sessions and committee hearings to be conducted via teleconference.
Specifically, the resolution provides that when a majority of the members of the Senate determine that a national emergency or “force majeure” situation has occurred that prevents them from physically attending committee or plenary meetings or hearings, the Senate may hold meetings, sessions, and hearings through videoconference or other reliable electronic means.
The resolution provides that the Senate secretary is to recommend the appropriate communications and information technology systems for teleconferences and oversee the setting up of the system after receiving approval from the Senate president.
Furthermore, the Senate secretary is tasked with providing safety measures aimed at protecting the integrity of the plenary session and committee hearings, the reliability and security of the technology used, and the proper archiving of the electronic recording of the hearings and sessions as part of the Senate records.
The proposal for Senate sessions via teleconference came in the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused disruptions in government operations. The resolution states that this emergency situation should not prevent the Senate from exercising its mandate to authorize appropriations and enact laws, especially those necessary for the government to respond to the pandemic while ensuring the safety and well-being of the affected population.