Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Filipinos will see marked changes in the presentation of the annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) under President Rodrigo Duterte that will depart from what has been traditionally prepared by organizers to dramatize the simple and populist character of the country’s new leader.
One major change that will be introduced in Duterte’s first SONA on Monday is the business attire that legislators and their spouses have been requested to wear in order to downplay what has been regarded as an opulent annual red carpet display of elaborate and expensive Barong Tagalog shirts and long gowns.
“It will not be a fashion show,” incoming Finance Department spokesperson Paola Alvarez, who is helping in the preparations for the SONA, said earlier this week.
Also read: SONA not a fashion show, dress code changed to business attire
“We want to center on what the President’s message is to our people, especially it’s his first State of the Nation Address,” she said.
The speech itself will reflect the personality of the tough-talking former Davao City Mayor who takes charge and is accountable for his actions, she said.
“So I think it will be the same tone and there won’t be any blaming game,” Alvarez said.
Duterte will focus on the administration’s 10-point economic agenda and will also tackle more detailed plans on the promises he made during the election campaign, she said.
The 1987 Constitution requires the President to address a joint session of Congress annually.
The Senate President and the Speaker of the House will call the joint session of the two chambers comprising 293 congressmen and 24 senators.
Dozens of foreign diplomats, government officials and other dignitaries also have been invited to hear the president’s SONA.
Security will remain tight around the House of Representatives or Batasang Pambansa building in Quezon City, where Duterte will address lawmakers and the rest of the nation.
Over 16,000 policemen will be deployed for the SONA, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said. About 11,000 of them will be stationed in the vicinity of the Batasan Complex.
The police said the Special Action Force (SAF) will be added to boost security for the President, who has received death threats allegedly from drug lords.
For a change, however, there will be no more barricades on Commonwealth Avenue, which were used in past SONAs to block protesters. The road has been the venue for the annual anti-government rallies that sometimes end with clashes between protesters and anti-riot police.
The NCRPO said there’s no reason this time to worry about anti-government protests or disruptions.
“We do not expect violent rallyists ngayon. Yung ineexpect nating rallyists ay actually supporters ng ating president,” NCRPO Chief Oscar Albayalde said.
[Translation: We do not expect violent rallyists this time. What we expect are rallyists who are actually supporters of our president.]
Around a thousand delegates, including lumads from Northern Mindanao and Caraga, are expected to arrive in Manila on Sunday to show support for the President. They will stage a rally to push Duterte to fulfill his campaign promises, including holding peace talks with rebel groups, pursuing land reform and ending labor contractualization.
The ceremonies and other activities related to Duterte’s first SONA – including the right camera angles to record his speech – will be directed by Brillante Mendoza. The award-winning film director has offered his services for free.
As huge crowds are expected to gather along Commonwealth Avenue, the Quezon City government declared classes at all levels suspended on July 25.
CNN Philippines’ Ina Andolong and Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
