MANILA - Sen. Sonny Angara on Tuesday filed a resolution discouraging hand shakes to avoid the possible spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other illnesses.

Under Senate Resolution No. 374, "citizens are urged not to use the handshake as a form of greeting to protect oneself and also other people."

"Despite the associated social graces, the handshake poses significant health risks and has been identified as a means for passing ailments and respiratory viruses as stated by the World Health Organization," Angara said in his resolution.

"Even during the flu season every cold months of the year, it is recommended to skip handshakes to prevent infecting others," he said.

Angara was among the 3 senators who were infected with COVID-19 in March. The 2 others are Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.

• Sonny Angara recovers from coronavirus disease
• LOOK: Angara back with family after recovering from COVID-19

While the senators have not traced where they got the disease, the lawmakers had said they met and shook hands with several people who visited the Senate days before they started manifesting symptoms of COVID-19.

Angara and Zubiri have recuperated from the disease, while Pimentel is still waiting for test results that would confirm that he has recovered from the illness.

• How husband’s health scare, disquieting period for family firmed up Tootsy Angara’s faith