Amid the threat of the coronavirus, House Secretary General Mark Llando Mendoza assured that the Batasan Complex remains safe.

Mendoza made this statement after 98 people tested positive in the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests. Most of them are asymptomatic.

Initiated by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, the mass testing at the Batasan Complex was conducted to ensure the safety of members and employees from the infectious COVID-19.

This is the first time that the House conducted mass testing ever since the enhanced community quarantine was implemented in March.

As for the patients, Mendoza assured that their health and safety will be the top priority of the House.

“Ginawa natin mass testing para lahat masigurado, para malaman na natin agad kung sinong positive. Pero karamihan kasi community transmission ‘yung nag-positive,” Mendoza said. “At least na-identify [‘yan] kasi may kumakalat na dito nanggaling sa House [‘yung COVID-19]. Hindi po totoo ‘yun. Hindi nag-originate dito sa House ‘yung transmission.”

The 98 COVID-positive people represents five percent of the House members and employees.