SoNA guest list getting longer
About 1,000 guests have so far confirmed their attendance at President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on Monday, 25 July.
House of Representatives Secretary-General Mark Llandro Mendoza, in an interview with reporters on Wednesday, said 70 to 80 percent of invitees to Marcos’s first SoNA have confirmed their attendance.
“We sent out around 1,360 invitations, so we’re just waiting for the confirmation, but around 70 to 80 percent have already confirmed,” Mendoza said.
He revealed that among the key political figures who have confirmed their attendance were former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as well as former President Joseph Estrada.
Meanwhile, former President Rodrigo Duterte and former Vice President Leni Robredo have yet to send their responses.
Mendoza said Vice President Sara Duterte will be arriving at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in the morning.
“All of the governors were also invited,” he added.
Others who are expected to grace the SoNA are members of the diplomatic corps and the country’s justices.
The opening of the Third Regular Session of the 19th Congress will be at 10 a.m., followed by Marcos’ SoNA at 4 p.m. during a Joint Session by the House and the Senate.
Meanwhile, Mendoza stressed that the President has preferred a simple SoNA.
“The President wants SoNA to be simple and more traditional. No glamor,” he said.
Among the SoNA performers is a choir group from Ilocos who will sing the national anthem, according to Mendoza.
Malacañang, meanwhile, has tapped director Paul Soriano to direct the SoNA.
Soriano was behind the TV campaign advertisements for Marcos during the 2022 presidential campaign.
In time for Marcos’ SoNA, Mendoza on Wednesday unveiled the marker on the renovation of the Plenary Hall.
The marker states that the renovation “is a manifestation of the collective commitment of the House Members of the 18th Congress to uphold the institution’s dignity, preserve the nation’s legislative history, and enrich the Filipino people’s democratic heritage.”
It further provides that the renovation was done through the initiative and stewardship of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
In his remarks during the event, Mendoza said that the Plenary Hall was built with an original capacity of 100 House members.
“So through the years, the members grew. Last time, there were only 316 members,” he said.
Meanwhile, in an interview, Deputy Secretary General for Engineering and Physical Facilities Department Engr. Floro Banaybanay said the House Plenary Hall is equipped with modern technology, including audio and video broadcast equipment, as well as remote cameras.
The session hall also has additional new seats and tables, aesthetically designed wood panels, and better lighting fixtures.
The Plenary Hall now has 367 seats for lawmakers and 1,357 gallery seats.
After 35 years, he said the entrance door of the session hall was upgraded to an automatic glass sliding door.
Banaybanay noted that the session hall is earthquake-proof, as its infrastructure has been continuously updated since five years ago to comply with the Standard Building Code and other necessary requirements.
Meanwhile, Presidential Security Group (PSG) Commander Col. Ramon Zagala said security preparations for the SoNA are now in its final stages.
In an interview, Zagala said the PSG has not detected any threat that may create disorder on 25 July, Monday.
“We are making the necessary coordination with other security agencies… in securing that the President will have a safe and no untoward incident that will happen during the SoNA,” he assured.
The PSG has been in full coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police (PNP), and the military to ensure security at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.
“Since last week, these preparations are being planned, and we at PSG, we are prepared in coordination with the PNP so that everything will run smoothly from the time he (Marcos) arrives, and delivers a SoNA, until he returns to the Malacañang Palace,” Zagala explained.