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.”
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
Transport group Manibela will also stage a rally calling for five-year franchises and other demands amid the public utility vehicle modernization program.
Traffic and security
Given the high-level event, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be closing to traffic the Batasan-IBP Road. Counterflow will be allowed on the southbound side of Commonwealth Avenue. Motorists have been advised to take alternate routes.
LOOK: The MMDA advised motorists to take alternate routes on July 22 for SONA. A zipper lane on the southbound portions of Commonwealth Ave. will be opened, while the Batasan-IBP road will be closed to vehicular traffic at 8AM | @bylancemejico pic.twitter.com/tahmzR2Qvf
— NewsWatch Plus PH (@newswatchplusph) July 17, 2024
The MMDA said it will deploy over 1,3000 personnel, including over 500 traffic enforcers along the Commonwealth IBP Road.
Over 22,700 police personnel will be deployed for the SONA. The National Capital Region Police Office is also on full alert and has carried out a gun ban in Metro Manila since Saturday, July 20.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it has provided around 500 personnel and two armored vehicles to support the police.
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The Philippine National Police (PNP) said they will file cases against rallyists who will hurt police officers during the protests.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil on Monday said authorities will observe maximum tolerance, but added police officers are ready to defend themselves against aggression.
The police and military said they have not monitored threats ahead of the SONA.
“Ang ating [The] commander of the Presidential Security Command also stated that they are ready to protect the president and other dignitaries in the conduct of the SONA today,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla told NewsWatch Plus. — Daniza Fernandez
