House eyes virtual SONA

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is considering using teleconference or a virtual fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) for President Duterte next month, possibly for the first time in history as the nation continues to face the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano revealed that the SONA would most likely be a “blended” style or a mix of actual and virtual session similar to the teleconference-type sessions being held by the chamber.

Under this setup, a limited number of guests would be physically present in the session hall while the rest of the lawmakers attend through an online teleconferencing app.

“The worst thing that can happen is if the (COVID-19) situation still prevails with no immunization, no vaccine, then we fill up Batasan and an outbreak occurs because we were all there,” he told reporters last Friday.

“So, safety will be the (priority) of the day but we will make sure that the President’s speech will be communicated nationwide,” Cayetano said.

However, there is no plan yet released by Malacañang on how the President will deliver his SONA on July 27.

It also remains to be seen whether pre-SONA forums would be held to discuss the administration’s achievements.

While Duterte delivered his past four SONAs in the Session Hall of the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, Senate President Vicente Sotto III has suggested that the President deliver his next SONA at Malacañang due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the past, previous presidents had delivered their SONAs in Maharlika Hall (now Kalayaan Hall) in Malacañang in Manila and in other venues like the legislative building in Manila (destroyed during the Second World War), temporary Congress building along Lepanto Street in Manila, Quirino Grandstand and Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The SONA is delivered by the President every year to report on the state of the country, unveil the government’s agenda for the coming year and also submit to Congress certain legislative measures.

It is required by Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution: “The President shall address the Congress at the opening of its regular session.”