President Duterte may switch to “Plan B" and deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Malacañang on Monday if many of the invited guests at Batasan Pambansa test positive for the new coronavirus, according to a Palace official.
(PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar revealed that the final venue of the President’s SONA remains "very fluid,” adding that it may change depending on the test results of the government officials invited to the event.
The Palace earlier announced that the President will deliver his fifth SONA at the House of Representatives in Quezon City before a limited number of guests, mostly lawmakers and Cabinet members. The President and other SONA guests are expected to undergo coronavirus testing prior to the event.
"Bago po mangyari ang SONA ay mayroon pong swabbing na mangyayari at sa swabbing nga na ito, diyan natin malalaman kung itutuloy na iyong sa Lower House. Kapag tumaas ang bilang ng positibo o kung mayroon mang positibo sa mga na-swab na mga panauhin ay magde-desisyon ang Office of the President, kasama ang PSG, kung doon tayo sa option B which will be done dito sa Malacañang (Before the SONA, guests will undergo swab tests to determine if we will push through with the event at the Lower House. If the number of positive increases or if any of the guests tests positive, the Office of the President and the Presidential Security Group will decide if we will proceed with option B which will be done in Malacañang),” Andanar said over DZRH Friday.
If the SONA venue shifts to the Palace, Andanar said the number of guests will be significantly fewer than the 50 people invited to the Batasan complex. Among the guests who will be invited to the Palace are the Senate President, House Speaker, Executive Secretary, and other select members of Congress.
"Very fluid kasi, dahil dito sa COVID-19 (It is very fluid because of COVID-19)," he said about the SONA preparations.
Before to the President's speech on Monday, Andanar said the SONA guests will undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing at a hospital in Quezon City and may get the results in a few minutes.
Meantime, the President's fifth SONA will not be a regular speech since it will be delivered as the nation reels from the coronavirus pandemic, according to Andanar.
The President's speech is expected to include the government's roadmap for economic recovery amid the coronavirus pandemic. The government's programs on job generation, economic revival, education, and assistance to displaced workers will also likely be tackled by the President.
"This is no regular State of the Nation Address. This is one of the most important State of the Nation Addresses that we will have for the last, I suppose, 50 or 60 years. Ito na ang pinakamahalaga dahil lahat na apektado (This is very important because everyone is affected)," he said.
"The President will give us the roadmap, the guidelines, ano ang aasahan natin. He will be carrying the torch for everybody. He will be lighting the way for everyone," he said.
He noted that the administration has scored economic gains and other accomplishments in the campaign against corruption, crime and poverty. The government's efforts however have been disrupted by the pandemic. He said the coronavirus crisis has "brought the world to its knees” in terms of public health and economic health.
The President is expected to rehearse the delivery of his SONA either on Friday or Saturday, Andanar said. He could not yet say how long the President’s SONA will be since he has not read the speech.
Andanar, meantime, said he took the coronavirus test and will know the results this weekend. He made the precaution after three PCOO employees tested positive for the illness.
The work at the PCOO has been temporarily suspended from July 21 to July 26 to pave the way for testing and disinfection of its offices at the New Executive Building.