'Habagat' rains force suspension of Senate, House sessions, VP impeachment trial

MANILA — Heavy rainfall and widespread flooding triggered by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) forced Congress to suspend operations on Monday, August 10, deferring the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and sending legislative staff to remote work arrangements.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives cancelled their scheduled plenary sessions for the day, citing hazardous travel conditions and safety concerns for employees across Metro Manila and surrounding provinces. Sessions in both chambers are set to resume on Tuesday, August 11.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian approved the shift to a work-from-home setup for all Senate officials and personnel following Memorandum Circular No. 123 issued by Malacañang on August 9.

“The impeachment trial and plenary session of the Senate today are cancelled and shall resume tomorrow, Tuesday, 11 August 2026,” Senate Secretary Atty. Renato N. Bantug Jr. announced in an advisory.

The suspension temporarily pauses the high-profile impeachment trial of Vice President Duterte, which is currently underway in the Senate.

The House of Representatives implemented a similar remote-work policy for its personnel. House Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil issued an early morning directive cancelling the lower house's plenary session as floodwaters rose in parts of the capital.

“In view of the heavy rainfall and flooding brought about by the southwest monsoon, a work-from-home arrangement shall be implemented in the House of Representatives today, 10 August 2026,” Velicaria-Garafil stated, emphasizing that the decision was made to ensure staff safety amid severe weather.

The legislative closures follow Malacañang's directive ordering government agencies in the National Capital Region and 15 affected provinces to transition to alternative work setups.

The executive order covers Metro Manila alongside the provinces of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Zambales, Bataan, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Benguet, Pangasinan, Abra, Tarlac, Pampanga, Oriental Mindoro, and Bulacan.

Memorandum Circular No. 123 also directed public and private schools at all levels within the specified areas to shift to alternative learning modes, subject to further instructions from local chief executives. -Paraluman News with a report from the Philippine News Agency