This file photo shows President Rodrigo Duterte delivering his fourth State of the Nation Address before a joint congressional session at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, July 22, 2019. (Screegrab from RTVM video via YouTube)
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte delivering his penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA) online is a “safe fallback position,” Malacañang said Tuesday.
The President is set to deliver his fifth SONA on July 27.
“Well, I would say that’s a safe fallback position,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing when asked if Malacañang is inclined to hold the President’s SONA online.
Roque, however, said there is nothing final yet though the other option is for the President to go to Batasang Pambansa with a limited number of lawmakers in attendance.
“Dalawa lang po ‘yung pinagpipilian nga. Pupunta sa Kongreso na kaunti lang ang mga kongresista at senador na present or galing na lang sa Malago [Clubhouse in Malacañang] via online,” Roque said.
(There are two options. The President goes to Congress with a small number of congressmen and senators attending or the President delivers his SONA from Malago via online.)
Roque added it does not matter where the President delivers his SONA.
“Nakikita niyo po, pati ang Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] Summit online na tapos ‘yung pagpre-present ng mga credentials ng mga ambassadors, online na rin,” Roque noted.
(As you can see, even the Asean Summit was held online and also the presentation of credentials of ambassadors.)
“So either way, it does not matter. Ang importante naman, mag-ulat sa Kongreso, and the Constitution does not require from where the President will report,” he added.
(So either way, it does not matter. What’s important is the President will report to Congress and the Constitution does not require from where the President will report.)
Roque earlier said there will be “no more fashion show” in this year’s SONA compared to the previous years.