Metro Manila, Philippines — Filipinos on Monday, July 22, will listen in on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Marcos will address the nation for the third time amid declining approval and trust ratings and a record self-rated poverty score since 2008.
WATCH: Kahirapan at kalam ng sikmura | SONA 2024
The president will present his plan for the final half of his presidency.
NewsWatch Plus gives you the information you need regarding SONA 2024.
What happens on July 22?
The SONA is required under the 1987 Constitution. It happens on the fourth Monday of July (falling on July 22 this year).
Ahead of the speech, the House of Representatives and Senate will convene separately on Monday morning to open the third regular session of the 19th Congress. Congress has been on a two-month break.
READ: Here’s what the 19th Congress aims to accomplish in its last session
The two chambers will suspend the session towards midday and reconvene in a joint session at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. Government officials, diplomats, other guests, and dignitaries will also attend the SONA. Vice President Sara Duterte earlier said she will be absent from the event, and that she has appointed herself as “designated survivor.”
READ: A ‘designated survivor’ for the Philippines
Minutes before the speech, the president is expected to arrive by helicopter or car at the Batasang Pambansa to be welcomed by the Senate president, House speaker and the House Sergeant-At-Arms who will act as the main security detail of the president. Congressional officials will be with the president in a holding area, and will proceed to the session hall before the appointed time under the Constitution.
At 4 p.m., Marcos will deliver his address on the rostrum. Behind him will be House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the president’s cousin, and Senate President Chiz Escudero.
In his previous SONA, Marcos spoke for over an hour. He mentioned in broad strokes the progress made by his administration and the promises and goals for the next year.
The government is spending around ₱20 million to hold the SONA.
The Quezon City government has suspended classes to give way for the event.
Protest activities
Ahead of the president’s speech, a number of groups will hold their “People’s SONA” on Commonwealth Avenue near the Batasang Pambansa complex.
LIST: Protest activities for SONA 2024
Bagong Alyansa Makabayan (Bayan), a coalition of progressive organizations, said chapter groups in Albay, Camarines Sur, Cebu City, and Davao City, as well as some international chapters, will also mount their own march and protests.
Among the highlights in the Metro Manila protest will be the burning of the “Umbagang Pilipinas” effigy and playing a prop called “Binobolang Pilipinas.”
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LOOK: Activists of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) are finalizing one of their effigies called "Umbagang Pilipinas" for #SONA2024. It portrays the conflict between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
📸 Bayan Secretary-General Mong Palatino pic.twitter.com/qK1ZVHeKUW
— NewsWatch Plus PH (@newswatchplusph) July 21, 2024
