There will be stringent health and safety protocols at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City when President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his 5th State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 27. 

In a press briefing on Wednesday, July 22, House Deputy Secretary General Ramon Roque said the selected government officials, lawmakers, guests, and technical support staff who would be allowed to enter Batasan during the SONA would be subjected to two coronavirus tests.

They would undergo a swab test on Sunday, July 26, at the De Venecia Hall, where they will also proceed for their rapid test during the day of the SONA. 

“Pagka nag-postive ‘yung House member or ‘yung senator, wala na, hindi na sila [makakapasok]. Pero ‘pag nag-postiive ‘yong technical staff, may alternate sila,” Roque said.

(If a House member or senator tests positive, he or she cannot enter anymore. But if technical staff members test positive, their alternates will replace them.)

Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier said only 50 people would be allowed inside the plenary hall to listen to Duterte deliver his SONA – 25 from the executive branch, 13 from the House of Representatives, and 12 from the Senate. The rest of the officials and lawmakers will join virtually.

The House secretariat, however, could not confirm the final list of attendees as of Wednesday, since it was still up for Malacañang’s approval.

Officials and guests would also have to sign health declaration forms before they could enter Batasan on Monday. They would also be subjected to a temperature check.

Duterte’s address on Monday would be historic, as it is going to be the first time that a President’s SONA would follow a hybrid format. Duterte still opted to deliver his speech at Batasan even as coronavirus infections continue to surge in the country.

The President is expected to present his government’s COVID-19 recovery plan when he faces the nation on Monday. 

His administration has been heavily criticized for its anemic response to the health crisis, where over 70,000 have been infected with the disease. (READ: Pandemic unravels Duterte’s 2016 promise of decisive leadership)

COVID-19 has claimed 1,837 lives in the Philippines. Still, 23,281 patients have already recovered from COVID-19.

Same protocols for House session

The same health protocols would be implemented on Monday morning, when the House opens its second regular session at 10 am.

House Secretary General Luis Montales said only 25 House leaders and officials will be present in the plenary hall, while the rest of the legislators are going to join the proceedings via teleconferencing app Zoom.

The session is expected to end by 12 noon to give time to disinfect the plenary hall before the final arrangements for Duterte’s SONA. 

SONA guests will then have between 2 pm to 3 pm to enter the plenary hall before the doors will be closed. Everyone is expected to be seated by 3:30 pm to wait for the arrival of Duterte, whose SONA is expected to start by 4 pm.

For the first time under the Duterte presidency, no other media organization apart from his own communications team, Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM), would be allowed to physically cover the SONA and the Congress session opening.

The exclusion of journalists in the Batasan coverage came days after newsrooms discovered that Duterte’s communications team had edited out his mention of embattled media network ABS-CBN, Rappler, the Ayala family, the Consunji family, and business tycoon Manny V Pangilinan in a July 13 speech in Jolo, Sulu.

But RTVM Demic Pabalan gave assurances on Wednesday that they would broadcast Duterte’s SONA without any alterations. – Rappler.com