Senate may have Saturday hearings if suspensions continue – Gatchalian

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday said the Senate may utilize Saturdays to conduct committee and budget hearings should suspensions persist.

Gatchalian was asked how the Senate can make up for missed days where government work had to be suspended due to inclement weather.

“Well, worse comes to worst, Saturday we can make that as an option, for hearings, kung kakailanganin (if needed),” he told reporters in an ambush interview.

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As for the impeachment trial, the Senate President said he is quite concerned as “time is of the essence” but said that employees’ safety remains the top priority.

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READ: Palace order shift gov’t work in NCR, 12 provinces to alternate work setup

“As we go along, imo-monitor namin kung kakailangan longer days or longer hours. So far, okay naman. So we’ll take it day by day dahil yung weather, di naman natin ma-predict (As we go along, we will monitor if we will need longer days or longer hours. So far, it’s still okay. So, we will take it day by day because we cannot predict the weather),” Gatchalian added.

He also said that they have yet to discuss in caucus Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri’s suggestion to move the trials in the afternoon and conduct Senate sessions in the morning.

Due to heavy rains associated with the southwest monsoon or habagat, Malacañang on Monday directed government offices in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces to shift to alternative work arrangements beginning 12 noon.

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The Senate followed suit by cutting short the impeachment trial until 2:30 p.m. and the Senate sessions until 4 p.m. only.

Meanwhile, asked again about the possibility of suspending face-to-face work in the upper chamber for the coming days, Gatchalian said he uses the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)’s weather forecasts as reference, while also being guided by Malacañang’s declaration.

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“Once na magbigay ng mas maagang information ang Pagasa, makakadecide tayo nang mas maaga (Once Pagasa provides information, we can then make decisions early on),” he reaffirmed. /mr