House of Representatives Secretary General Reginald Velasco on Tuesday maintained that invited guests and participants to this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) will no longer have to undergo antigen testing for COVID-19.
“We have been informed that (the COVID-19 testing) will be lifted. There will be no more antigen requirement. Even the health declaration, we will forego that,” Velasco said.
“Even on you, the media, we will no longer require that,” he said.
Velasco said SONA attendees would just have to present their vaccination cards.
He added the use of face masks would be made optional.
The House expects the attendees this year could breach the 2,000 mark. The session hall of the Batasan Complex has a seating capacity of about 1,500 people.
“We expect many attendees because things are almost back to normal. In fact, the Department of Health (DOH) secretary has recommended the lifting of all the said protocols at the end of the pandemic emergency,” Velasco said.
The anti-gen testing was required during Mr. Marcos’ first SONA on July 23, 2022.