Plan B venue: Duterte’s Sona in Malacañang

There is a “Plan B” for President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) if many of the invited guests at the Batasang Pambansa will test positive for the coronavirus.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the final venue is still “very fluid” depending on the number of attendees who would test positive in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

In an interview on dzRH on Friday, Andanar said this year’s Sona is unlike previous years, given that the country is still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is no regular State of the Nation Address. This is one of the most important Sonas that we will have for the last, I suppose, 50 or 60 years. This is the most important because everyone is affected,” he said.

The Malacañang official pointed out that the Philippine economy was faring well before the pandemic, which “brought economies around the world to its knees.”

“The President will give us the roadmap, the guidelines, what to expect. He will be carrying the torch for everybody. He will be lighting the way for everyone,” Andanar said.

PCR test for guests

Earlier, Malacañang said the President would deliver his fifth Sona physically at the Batasang Pambansa, but before a limited number of guests.

The guests will undergo PCR testing for COVID-19 before the event at a hospital in Quezon City. Andanar said the guests may get the results in a couple of minutes.

“There will be a swabbing and this is where we will know if the Sona will push through at the Batasan. If the number of positive cases are high, or if there are positive cases among the guests, then the Office of the President and the Presidential Security Group will decide if we will go with Option B, which will be done here in Malacañang,” Andanar said.

Andanar said those who would be invited to the Palace for the Sona are the Senate President, House Speaker, executive secretary and other select lawmakers.