MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered the House of Representatives to accommodate everyone who wants to attend his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
According to House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, President Marcos want them to accommodate the more than 2,000 individuals who have signified their desire to attend the SONA.
Among those who wish to witness President Marcos’ second SONA are from the government, the private sector, and non-government organizations.
“I had a chit-chat with the president yesterday and I said there are a lot of people who would like to attend this SONA this July 22nd. And he said to me, ‘Accommodate all of them,’” Velasco said.
Velasco added that, since the seating capacity of the session hall is only 2,000, they will add seats in the session hall and will open several function rooms to accommodate guests just like last year.
The House official further said an inter-agency committee will come up with the seating plan for the session hall, while renovations in several areas are ongoing.
“This is an old building. That’s why we have decided to renovate the North [Wing], South [Wing], and that back lobby, back entrance,” Velasco said.
“We have decided to install air conditioning kasi nahihirapan ‘yung mga guests minsan. Pumipila. And then as you know, sa SONA, all the VIPs will be passing through North and South lobbies. Major complaint, napakainit,” he added.
The State of the Nation Address or SONA is an annual address by the president of the Philippines to a joint session of the Congress of the Philippines.
Mandated by the 1987 Constitution, the speech is delivered every fourth Monday of July at the Plenary Session Hall of the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Batasan Hills, Quezon City./PN
