Preparations underway for SONA

The Quezon City government in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) are now in the thick of preparations for President’s Arroyo State of the Nation Address before the joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa complex.

Quezon City police director Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan, in his report to Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., said 3,000 policemen from the National Capital Region Police Office would be deployed on July 25 along Batasan Road and Commonwealth Avenue to maintain peace and order in the area when the President delivers her SONA.

Radovan said the Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol and the QCPD officials have been mapping out a security management plan to be implemented during the SONA.

"Preparations and plans for the President’s SONA are now in place," Radovan said.

Apart from the security preparations, Belmonte also directed the city engineering, public order and safety and the environment and waste management departments to coordinate their effort with police and the MMDA.

Manuel Sabalza, department of public order chief, said contingency measures, including the re-routing of traffic is being worked out with the MMD.

Frederika Rentoy, environment management chief, also reported that street sweepers would be deployed to clean the vicinity of teh Batasan complex after the SONA.

Dump trucks will be deployed to IBP road for the collection of garbage.