IT’S all systems go for President Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday at the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City, which is expected to draw over 2,000 guests.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said among those who have confirmed their attendance were Vice President Sara Duterte and her father former president Rodrigo Duterte, while former vice president Leni Robredo has declined the invitation.
“So we have over 2,000 guests and we have some reserved seats pa rin (also) for those who will request us last minute. We are already prepared for these contingencies, so we can accommodate more guests if needed,” he said.
Velasco refused to name who would sing the Philippine National Anthem, saying the House, the Senate, and the Office of the President (OP) all prefer to keep it a secret.
However, for the morning session of the House, a choir from Tacloban City in Leyte, Speaker Martin Romualdez’s home province, was chosen to sing the “Lupang Hinirang.”
Floro Banaybanay, deputy secretary general of the House Engineering and Physical Facilities Department (EPFD), said all of the event’s internal and outside requirements, including the banner installations to be placed along Commonwealth Avenue have all been prepared.
EPFD executive director Renato Dela Torre said overall physical preparations are nearing completion.
“As of now, I can say that we’re about 95 percent prepared except for the minor changes … but for the engineering facilities, our grounds natin, the road network, as you can see, it’s all prepared,” he said.
Dela Torre said the sound system, electrical installation, and internet infrastructure are all nearing completion as well. He noted that only the remaining joint command center setups and requirements from the Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) and Presidential Security Group (PSG) would be tested over the weekend.
The House will also deploy more protocol officers (POs) in anticipation of more SONA attendees this year.
The task of each PO is to ensure the orderly movement of SONA attendees to and from the plenary hall, said Rosemarie Santos, IPRSAB deputy executive director.
PREPARING FOR THE WORST
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr said they are preparing for a worst-case scenario during for the SONA.
He said he is hoping that the worst-case scenario, which is violent protest, will not happen.
“We are ready. We will be deploying more or less 22,000 police personnel and part of this will be the CDM (civil disturbance management),” said Acorda.
“We are preparing for the worst… I hope and pray for peaceful conduct of rallies and respect for each other,” he said.
Officials earlier said rallies will be allowed only at the designated freedom park at Quezon Memorial Circle. The PNP said protest marches will be allowed up to the Luzon avenue flyover, from University of the Philippines.
As to their worst-case scenario, Acorda said “what we are seeing is the protesters will become violent.”
“I hope we won’t reach that. We hope respect (for each other) will prevail,” said he adding policemen will be exercising maximum tolerance in dealing with protesters.
“What we don’t want is an escalation of violence, especially on the side of the protesters,” he said.
He noted there had been no violent protests during past SONAs and “I hope it will be the same for this year.”
As to threats, Acorda said they have not monitored any. Nevertheless, he said, PNP intelligence operatives continue to monitor the situation.
“We are also in coordination with the AFP, their intelligence units. And so far, we have nothing to worry about,” Acorda said.
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
The humanitarian and advocacy arm of the Catholic Church in the Philippines urged the President to state in the SONA his plans to address economic woes felt by the public.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, president of Caritas Philippines, said majority of Filipinos are facing the economic problems caused by high prices of commodities.
“We are on inflation stage and many of our countrymen are having difficulties in providing the basic needs for their families,” he said. — With Victor Reyes and Gerard Naval
