Health protocols for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) remain unchanged, amid the spike in COVID-19 cases abroad, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said.
On Tuesday, May 27, RH 12 Milky Rigonan reported that Velasco confirmed that health protocols for the upcoming SONA in July remain unchanged, stating that the COVID-19 situation in the country remains under control.
The memorandum dated May 20, 2025, indicated that Velasco acknowledged the re-emergence and growing concern regarding COVID-19 cases, considering that some parts of Asia recorded a noticeable rise in infections and severe cases.
The countries named in the document include Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and Thailand.
However, Velasco assured that health authorities had been closely monitoring the situation, so that they could implement the necessary precautions. He also cited the Department of Health’s (DOH) advisory dated May 3, 2025, affirming that the COVID-19 situation in the country remains under control.
“The DOH and the Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID) have not observed a corresponding increase in consultations or hospital admissions in the country, reaffirming that there is presently no cause for alarm,” the memorandum read.
Basahin > kopya ng memo ni House Sec. Gen. Reginald Velasco. Sa ngayon, wala pang babaguhin na health protocols sa nalalapit na SONA sa kabila ng mga naitatalang kaso ng Covid-19 @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/XIqr98aiVZ
— milky rigonan 💋 (@milkyrigonan) May 27, 2025
As part of the ongoing effort to safeguard the employees’ health and well-being in Congress, the Medical and Dental Service (MDS) of the Administrative Department laid out several preventive measures and health reminders aligned with the latest medical protocols and legal standards.
The House memorandum states that employees are required to consult the MDS or any healthcare professional regarding their symptoms before reporting to work. Employees are also required to inform the Health Safety Officer (HSO) if their test results are positive, for proper guidance.
Those who test positive for COVID-19 should be in home isolation for at least five days, and can only report back to work if respiratory symptoms like cough and cold improve in the next 24 hours.
“To minimize the risk of transmission, the office with COVID-19-positive patients shall enforce the mandatory wearing [of] face masks among its personnel for a duration of ten (10) days,” the memorandum indicated.
A medical clearance is required for immunocompromised patients and those with moderate to severe symptoms.
