Senators are set to convene plenary session Monday morning under the 19th Congress, promptly tackling leadership reorganization issues and install new leaders, as well as the chairmanships of various working committees.
In the afternoon, the senators will proceed to the Batasan for the joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives to hear President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. deliver his first State of the Nation Address.
Based on the reported consensus forged among majority of senators, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri will be the new Senate President with Sen. Loren Legarda assuming the post of Senate President Pro Tempore and Senator Joel Villanueva as incoming Majority Leader, the post previously held by Zubiri.
Among the minority bloc, Senator Koko Pimentel is touted to be the new Minority Leader but sources said they are still awaiting the outcome of talks over the weekend as Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was said to have also signaled his interest to get the top minority post.
Also awaited are welcome rites on Monday for 12 recently elected senators who won in the last senatorial derby.
Meanwhile, the Senate session hall is being prepared for face-to-face plenary proceedings amid the lingering Covid-19 contagion.
As part of the precautions against Covid 19, each senator’s table will be enclosed in acrylic fiber glass, and the number of staff and visitors allowed to enter the session hall will be limited.