House Secretary-General Reginald Velasco (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

House Secretary-General Reginald Velasco doesn't think that the P20-million food budget for this year's State of the Nation Address (SONA) is over the top. 

Speaking to House reporters in an interview Tuesday, July 9, Velasco says the eight-figure food budget is "just about right" given the sheer number of people that have to be fed for the duration of the annual event. 

"Ah no, It’s not too costly," he said when asked about the P20 million. 

"Our security personnel alone are in the hundreds. The Congress personnel is at 2,000 to 3,000, then the guests are around 2,000. That's just about right,” explained the secretary-general.  

Velasco said the food budget covers the "breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks" of all the SONA participants. 

At any rate, the House official declined to give any more details on the SONA grub. He said he wasn't even allowed to share the menu. 

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President Marcos is scheduled to deliver his third SONA before a joint session of the House of Representatives and Senate on July 22 at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City. 

Velasco said the Senate will bring its own caterer. The House members hold office at Batasang Pambansa. 

The secretary-general says this year's SONA is shaping up to be the "biggest in history" in term of confirmed guests. 

Citing security reasons, Velasco said the House will only reveal the total cost of this year's SONA after the event.