The House of Representatives is planning to host a 100-percent face-to-face State of the Nation Address for President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out two years ago.
House Secretary General Mark Mendoza, however, said they are also ready to host another hybrid SONA, depending on the COVID-19 situation.
“SONA will be face-to-face but we prepared two scenarios: one that is 100-percent full capacity and another that is hybrid with social distancing,” Mendoza said.
“It will depend on the President and at the same time on the COVID situation,” he added.
Marcos Jr. last month met with several members of the incominh Congress to discuss his upcoming first SONA and his administration’s legislative agenda.
The Marcos camp said the lawmakers were led by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who are both eyeing the top posts in their respective chambers.
“He instructed me and incoming Speaker Romualdez to sit down and discuss possible legislative agenda for the SONA,” Zubiri said.
Marcos also ordered his incoming budget chief to ensure that his priority sectors would get backing from the 2023 National Expenditure Program.
Incoming Budget chief Amenah Pangandaman said the focus covers agricultural and food security, climate change adaptation, economic recovery, improved healthcare and education and enhanced infrastructure projects, including digital infrastructure.