BBM’s 2nd SONA
PRESIDENT Marcos delivers this aftertnoon his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) before the joint session of Congress at the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City.
The joint session of the two-chamber Congress will take place at the plenary hall of the House of Representatives, with foreign and local dignitaries in attendance.
Three former Presidents – Rodrigo R. Duterte, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) and Joseph Ejercito Estrada – and ex-Vice President Jejomar Binay are expected to grace the session.
Likewise, members of the diplomatic corps, Cabinet secretaries, other government officials and invited guests are expected to attend President Marcos’ second SONA.
Malacanang has suspended classes and work in government and private offices today in Metropolitan Manila due to inclement weather and the 72-hour transport strike.
SONA is a constitutional obligation and yearly tradition, wherein the incumbent Chief Executive reports on the status of the country and unveils the government agenda for the year.
Mr. Marcos, the only son and namesake of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos, submits to the 24-member Senate and the House of Representatives his legislative agenda.
The government’s proposed legislative measures are aimed at addressing the various problems confronting the country and the more than 110 million Filipino people.
Records show that the longest SONA was delivered by the late President Marcos in 1969 with a total of 29,355 words, while GMA’s SONA in 2005 was the shortest with only 1,551 words.
And the late President Manuel L. Quezon delivered the country’s first SONA on Nov. 25, 1935.
