Citing the need for sensitivity during times of disaster, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña says the government should dial down on extravagance in the conduct of the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28.

Cendaña made the appeal Wednesday, July 23 in the wake of widespread flooding and destruction brought about by Typhoon "Crising" and the intensified "Habagat" rains that left the metropolis and various parts of the country flooded.

He said that having lavish preparations for the yearly address would be tone deaf to affected communities.

""This is not the time for pomp. This is the time for empathy, humility, and decisive action. Ang panawagan ko sa mga kapwa ko mambabatas na kusa na nating gawing payak ang pagdaos ng SONA," Cendaña said.

(My call to my fellow legislators is for us to voluntarily make the conduct of the SONA simple.)

“It is the height of insensitivity if we will roll out the red carpet for SONA when our constituents and their families don’t even have roofs over their heads,” underscored the progressive solon.

President Marcos is slated to deliver his fourth SONA before a joint session of Congress at the plenary hall of the House of Representatives in Batasan, Quezon City on July 28. The House, the annual host, is the main organizer.

The SONA is traditionally a red carpet affair that attracts VIP guests both here and aborad. In recent history, only the Covid-19 pandemic was able to scale down the event.

“Balikan natin ang layunin ng SONA ayon sa konstitusyon. Trabaho ng Pangulo na mag-report sa Kongreso at sambayanan. Trabaho natin na makinig at himayin ang kanyang report–hindi ito fashion gala,” said Cendaña.

(Let’s return to the constitutional purpose of the SONA. It is the President’s duty to report to Congress and to the nation. It is our duty to listen and scrutinize that report—it’s not a fashion gala.)

Cendaña reckoned that the widespread devastation caused by the typhoon should be a main concern in the President’s address among other urgent social issues:

“Malaki ang inaasahan ng mamamayan sa SONA ng Pangulo. Marami silang tanong na nangangailangan ng agarang sagot sa Pangulo. Isa na diyan kung nasaan ang agarang tulong sa mga nasalanta at kung bakit tila lumalala ang problema ng pagbaha sa kabila ng bilyun-bilyong piso na ginugugol natin taon-taon sa mga flood control projects?” he said.

(The public places great expectations on the President’s SONA. They have many urgent questions that demand immediate answers from the Chief Executive. Among them are where is the swift assistance for those affected by recent disasters, and why does the flooding problem seem to worsen year after year, despite the billions of pesos we pour annually into flood control projects?)