President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday ordered the suspension of all classes in public schools and work in government offices in Metro Manila on Monday, July 24, the date of his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Based on Memorandum Circular No. 25 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, the suspension is due to the expected inclement weather brought by Tropical Storm “Egay” and a scheduled 72-hour transport strike in the region.
The memo said the suspension of work for private companies and schools is left to their discretion. Agencies involved in the delivery of basic and health services, disaster response, and other vital services are excluded and should continue with operations and services.
The weather bureau said Egay may intensify into a super typhoon by Tuesday or Wednesday.
“It’s all systems go on Monday,” House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said, even as the chamber’s sergeant-at-arms, retired Police Maj. Gen. Napoleon Taas, said he sees a smooth and orderly conduct of the SONA on Monday despite the threat of Egay.
At the House of Representatives, Taas said a combined security contingent coming from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and the Bureau of Fire Protection totaling 29,000 personnel will be deployed on SONA Day.
Many of the personnel to be deployed are veterans of previous SONAs. Taas, a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, USA, said security preparations began as early as April on instructions of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
This year is the first time that the House 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, he added.
Meanwhile, financial markets are said to be expecting to hear from President Marcos’ plans on how to address the problems related to inflation as well as the tight fiscal space in his second SONA on Monday, HSBC said.
The three reforms cited by HSBC are the Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension (MUP) Reform, the Extension of Executive Order 10, and the Liberalization and Competitiveness Reforms on livestock, onion, and sugar.
It said any reforms to the MUP pension system, which currently costs around 0.9 percent of GDP and is set to rise further to as much as 1.7 percent of GDP by 2040, would lower government expenditures and expedite efforts toward fiscal consolidation.
Likewise, it said any extension of Executive Order 10 (or even making this permanent) could lead to lower inflation expectations for 2024.
On the third reform, the bank said the liberalization and investment policies on livestock, onion, and sugar could also lower inflation expectations as the freer importation of these goods could bolster food supply and, in turn, temper overall food prices immediately.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday said that they will be fair in dealing with any groups who will mount a protest or support during the President’s SONA.
In an interview, PNP Spokesperson Jean Fajardo said that at least two kilometers is the distance between progressive groups and pro-government groups to avoid escalating tension.
Groups are allowed to station in Tandang Sora, while pro-admin groups are placed in front of the St. Peter Parish along Commonwealth, the PNP official stressed.
Additionally, progressive groups are allowed to conduct their program from 8 A.M to 1 P.M, while pro-government supporters’ allotted time is 11 A.M to 5 P.M
According to Fajardo, the Quezon City local government has released permits to four groups for the SONA. She assured that the PNP would give both sides the same treatment and reminded them to strictly observe and follow the security guidelines.
Fajardo also discouraged groups from burning effigies as it would be bad for health and would violate the Clean Air Act and other ordinances.