Cayetano urges public to PSST amid COVID-19 crisis

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano urged the public to observe 'PSST' — Prayer, Stay at Home, Save Lives, and Take Home Pay — as a reminder to follow government directives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He expressed concern that many Filipinos are not practicing social distancing, posing a risk to others.

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives held a makeshift poster urging the public to stay at home because congressmen, along with doctors and frontliners, "went to work" for them, a gesture criticized online as a 'gimmick' and a rip-off of a campaign by actual frontline health workers.

Cayetano defended the sign-holding, stating he would do it again if it meant protecting people from COVID-19.

The House and the Senate held a special session to approve measures addressing the national health emergency, including a bill granting President Rodrigo Duterte 25 special powers.

The Speaker assured the public of unprecedented cooperation between the executive and legislative branches of government during this health crisis.