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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider '2,000-plus' invites sent out for SONA 2024--House exec 

'2,000-plus' invites sent out for SONA 2024--House exec 

Published Jul 1, 2024 04:43 am

At A Glance

  • Over 2,000 invitations have been sent out to guests of this year's State of the Nation Address, House Secretary-General Reginald Velasco told reporters on Monday, July 1. 
  •  

IMG-ba41bb8c2bd980d7fdf5cd7d66bdecde-V.jpgThe House plenary hall (Contributed photo)



Over 2,000 invitations have been sent out to guests of this year's State of the Nation Address, House Secretary-General Reginald Velasco told reporters on Monday, July 1.

"I think we have sent about 2,000-plus," said Velasco, who added that around 60 to 70 percent of the guests have confirmed their attendance.

The SONA will take place on Monday, July 22 at the House of Representatives. It will be the third SONA under President Marcos' administration.

"We have already sent the invitation and many have confirmed already...we are arranging the seating plan, no? Because, ah, as I told the President, ang dami-daming gusto pong umatend nitong SONA (a lot of people want to attend this SONA)," shared the House official.

He confirmed that the ongoing renovations at the House were for the purpose of the upcoming SONA.

"This is an old building, no? That's why we have decided to renovate the north, south, and that back lobby, no? Back entrance...we have decided to ah, install air conditioning kasi nahihirapan yung mga guest minsan, pumipila (the guests find it uncomfortable when they queue up.)

"And then, as you know, [during] SONA, all the VIPs (very important persons) will be passing through north and south lobby, no? Major complaint napakainit (A major complaint is that it's very hot)," explained Velasco.

The floor tiles of the individual lobbies and their respective washrooms were also completely redone.

Asked about how much the Speaker Martin Romualdez-led House is spending for SONA 2024, Velasco said: "We don't have the figures available now."


The sitting president traditionally delivers the SONA at the House plenary before a joint session of Congress.

Related Tags

State of the Nation Address reginald velasco House of Representatives President Marcos
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