Sona preparations: Plenary hall can house more people with over P100M renovations

SOCIAL DISTANCING Members of the House of Representatives practice social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Others join plenary sessions via Zoom. —FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The plenary hall of the House of Representatives in the Batasan Complex — where the State of the Nation Address (Sona) would be held — can now accommodate more guests and lawmakers after renovations worth over P100 million.

House Secretary General Mark Mendoza on Wednesday said that they have devised a new floor plan for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first Sona, as the plenary hall is now designed for 340 to 350 seats.

“Actually yung sa floor plan, ibang-iba na, dati kasi flat sya, ngayon elevated na yung seating arrangement natin, before kasi kaunti lang, nung 306 nga, sobrang siksikan na, buti na lang pandemic, hindi pa masyadong… sobrang kaunti lang nag-aattend, hybrid that time,” Mendoza told reporters.

(Actually, with the floor plan, it is very different now because before it was on a flat surface, now we have an elevated seating arrangement, because before we can only accommodate just around 306 only, which is already jam-packed.  The good thing is that the pandemic did not require attendance, it was hybrid during that time.)

“Pero ngayon kasi, were also preparing na mag face-to-face na rin yung sessions, ngayon, ang capacity ng plenary talaga from 315 congressmen, kaya siya, more than enough, we still have space, dinesign siya more than 340 -350 ang pwedeng umupo sa session hall, kasi pati sa SONA, ‘yong mga iba,” he added.

(But now, we are also preparing for face-to-face sessions, now, the capacity of the plenary increased from 315 congressmen, that’s why we have more than enough, we still have space, it is now designed to seat more than 340-350 at the session hall, even during the Sona and other events,” he added.

With the previous capacity of only 306, Mendoza noted that monobloc chairs had to be placed inside the plenary hall just to seat more people.

“Kasi previous SONA, makikita ninyo may mga monobloc sa gilid, hindi naman magandang tignan, panget yung itsura,” he said.

(Because for the previous Sona, you can see that there are monobloc chairs on the side, and it doesn’t look good.)

“So dito ginawa natin, makakaupo, as much as possible, first come first serve yung makakaupo sa… ‘yong mga former members na gustong umupo, makakaupo sila doon, pero the rest sa gallery na sila makakaupo,” he added.

(So here, what we did is that as much as possible, the seating arrangement is first come, first serve for those who want to sit, the members can sit there, but the rest would have to be seated at the gallery.)

When asked how much was spent on the renovations, Mendoza said that over P100 million was used as the plenary hall is already old.

“Mga ano kasi, siguro more than a hundred million kasi sobrang luma na rin siya, marami kaming pinalitan sa lugar, sa plenary,” he noted.

(We spent around more than a hundred million because it is really old, we replaced a lot of things inside the plenary hall.)

Security and logistic preparations for the Sona are currently underway, with local police saying that over 21,000 security personnel would be deployed to secure the area around the Batasan Complex.

On Tuesday, House Sergeant-at-Arms retired Brig. Gen. Rodelio Jocson said that several inter-agency meetings have already been done to iron out several concerns.

READ: House security assures meetings are held to secure Sona 2022

Mendoza earlier said that they are already all systems go for the Sona, with minor details already being attended to.

“Okay na tayo, systems go na tayo, nag-out na rin tayo ng invitations, yung session hall naman will be ready by tomorrow, okay na po siya, everything’s okay na. More on security preparations na lang tayo dito sa House,” he noted.

(We are okay, we are all systems go, we have sent out the invitations, the session hall will be ready by tomorrow, it is okay, everything’s okay. We would focus more on security preparations here at the House.)

Marcos Jr., who was inaugurated into office last June 30, will be speaking in front of Congress during the Sona to lay down his legislative agenda.

Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who is expected to be the next House speaker, said that they do not want to preempt the speech of the President but he believes the 2023 budget — the first under the current administration — would be a priority legislation.

READ: Romualdez eyes House approval of 2023 nat’l budget before year ends

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