Cebu City Council to return to online sessions following rise in COVID cases

Members of the Cebu City Council huddle during a recess in a special session. The council will return to online sessions while the cases of COVID-19 infections remain high. | Delta Dyrecka Letigio

CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Council will once again return to holding sessions online following the rise of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the city.

As of January 29, 2021, the city has 1,150 active cases of the COVID-19 with 103 of these recorded in just one day on January 28, 2021.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama said the cases have been concerning for the safety of the councilors and their staff. It can be remembered that at the peak of the pandemic in June 2020, one of the councilors, Antonio Cuenco, died of the pneumonia-inducing virus.

To ensure the safety of the council members, Rama said they have decided to move the sessions online in the meantime.

The online sessions will begin on February 3, 2021, and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

Although Rama has not confirmed the information, reports have been circulating that one of the councilors have proven positive for the virus causing the return to the online session.

The vice mayor said he does not want to reveal the identity of the COVID-positive councilor until the said councilor confirms or denies the report himself.

“I don’t want to make pronouncement unless the one being referred to will be the one to say,” said Rama.

CDN Digital has also chosen to withhold the name of the councilor pending confirmation. CDN Digital has also attempted to contact the councilor but queries remained unanswered.

Still, Rama said that the decision was made in order to protect the council members from the spreading virus.

He will still preside the council session at the City Hall Legislative building while the other council members join the sessions through Zoom.

The sessions will remain online until the COVID cases in the city decrease or stabilize. /rcg