Congress mulls simpler Sona set up amid crisis

MANILA, Philippines – The two chambers of Congress are considering a simple State of the Nation Address (Sona) as it starts its discussions on preparing the yearly event, Senate Secretary Mark Llandro “Dong” Mendoza said on Tuesday.

After a meeting with House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil at the Senate, Mendoza told the media that this year’s Sona will be simpler in decorations.

“Both the SP [Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III] and House Speaker [Faustino “Bojie” Dy III] ordered to keep it simple… Maybe it’s just the setup… Maybe we’ll just make it simpler,” Mendoza said in Filipino.

Mendoza then noted that the simpler setup is amid the ongoing oil crisis.

“Of course, because of what’s happening right now, people might react a little bit. Just tone it down a little,” he added in a mix of Filipino and English.

He specified that they are planning to have less decoration and possibly a less extravagant dress code.

Later, Mendoza clarified that further discussions on the matter will take place between the two chambers before the executive branch joins in the preparations.

READ: SONA 2025: What’s delivered, promised, and what needs clarity

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will deliver his fifth Sona on July 27, 2026, at the Batasang Pambansa Complex.

In his last Sona, Marcos Jr. revealed the supposed corruption schemes involving government-funded flood control projects. 

This revelation opened the door to investigations into the Department of Public Works and Highways, government contractors, and other government agencies, in which elected officials, including the president himself, were accused of involvement in the corruption scandal. /jpv