“Its all systems go on Monday,” House of Representatives (HRep) Secretary General Reginald Velasco said even as HRep Sergeant-at Arms (SAA) PMajor General Napoleon Taas sees a smooth and orderly conduct of the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 24, 2023.
SAA Taas said a combined security contingent coming from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) totaling 29,000 personnel will be deployed on SONA Day, many of whom are old hands having participated in the security force of previous SONAs.
According to SAA Taas, security preparations and arrangements began as early as April 2023, on instructions of Speaker Romualdez. He also added that this year is the first time that the HRep used an online system for validating entry to the Batasan Complex, similar to the model used by the US Embassy and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“Security is not an issue,” Taas said, emphasizing that the people’s focus should be on the President’s message, “Ang dapat nating pag usapan is iyong pinakahihintay ng lahat ng kababayan natin: iyong mensahe ng ating Pangulo, His Excellency, kung ano iyong message niya sa SONA.”
Secgen Velasco disclosed that at least three internet service providers (ISPs) have been put on standby as a contingency so that coverage of the SONA will not be interrupted, “We want to be sure that the message ni Presidente will be communicated well, hindi magkakaroon ng glitches of any kind.”
SAA Taas said a combined security contingent coming from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) totaling 29,000 personnel will be deployed on SONA Day, many of whom are old hands having participated in the security force of previous SONAs.
According to SAA Taas, security preparations and arrangements began as early as April 2023, on instructions of Speaker Romualdez. He also added that this year is the first time that the HRep used an online system for validating entry to the Batasan Complex, similar to the model used by the US Embassy and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“Security is not an issue,” Taas said, emphasizing that the people’s focus should be on the President’s message, “Ang dapat nating pag usapan is iyong pinakahihintay ng lahat ng kababayan natin: iyong mensahe ng ating Pangulo, His Excellency, kung ano iyong message niya sa SONA.”
Secgen Velasco disclosed that at least three internet service providers (ISPs) have been put on standby as a contingency so that coverage of the SONA will not be interrupted, “We want to be sure that the message ni Presidente will be communicated well, hindi magkakaroon ng glitches of any kind.”