House of Representatives (HRep) Secretary General Reginald Velasco on Tuesday declared that the HRep is ready to host the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
In the third SONA inter-agency meeting held at Heroes Hall, Malacañan Palace, Velasco talked about the renovations that the HRep is undertaking, adding that, “We are ready to adjust to accommodate our partners from the Office of the President (OP) and the Senate.”
Senate Secretary Renato Bantug thanked the HRep for taking on the “lion’s share” of the preparations for the event.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Honey Rose Mercado asked the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for the details of its traffic rerouting plan so that public advisories may be issued and amplified to alert motorists and commuters to make the necessary adjustments on SONA day.
The Philippine National Police also reported that it plans to deploy 22,000 policemen in various areas in Metro Manila and nearby surrounding areas for the event.
On Monday, officials from the OP did an initial walk-through of the SONA scenario, from the President’s arrival to his delivery of the SONA and afterwards.
Inter-Parliamentary and Public Affairs Department (IPAD) Deputy Secretary General (DSG) Atty. Grace Andres of the HRep led the activity, pointing out the new room designations for all the guests on SONA day. The room assignments were finalized in Tuesday’s meeting.
“We have to make changes for facilitation and easy movement of our guests specially the President, his entourage and his family members,” DSG Floro Banaybanay, of the HRep’s Engineering and Physical Facilities Department, explained.
The final meeting for the SONA preparations is scheduled on July 15, 2024.