Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City, home of the House of Representatives and the site of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s first State of the Nation Address (SONA), was placed on "semi-lockdown" on Tuesday, July 19.
House Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza said the move was in line with the final preparations for Marcos's SONA, which will take place in the afternoon of July 25, or next Monday.
Under the "semi-lockdown", only persons considered essential to the preparations of the SONA will be granted access within the complex.
Moreover, Mendoza said that a "total lockdown" might be implemented at Batasang Pambansa by either Thursday or Friday.
At any rate, the House official reiterated that it's "all systems go" for the annual event, which, for the first time since 2019 would be held in a full face-to-face set-up.
From an initial 1,200, the invited guests for the event have been bumped up to 1,365.
The House plenary hall, which will host a joint session between House members and senators on Monday afternoon, was heavily renovated ahead of the SONA. Marcos will deliver his speech at the plenary.
On Monday, July 18, workers inside the House were seen measuring red carpets that would be placed on both the north and south wing lobbies of the main building, where the plenary hall is located.
The entry process at Batasang Pambansa for visitors--including journalists and other media practitioners--has been very strict since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Visitors must queue for a temporary access pass card, afterwhich they would be asked to undergo an antigen test at the north lobby.
Only upon testing negative would the visitor be allowed to enter main lobby or access the room of the House members. Covid-19 test requirements are expected to be stepped up for SONA day.
The final guidelines for media that will cover the SONA is expected to be known on Wednesday.