Duterte SONA 2020: time, highlights, live stream and coverage

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will outline the administration’s achievements and plans on economic response and recovery amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as he delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27, 2020 at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

Duterte SONA 2020: time, highlights, live stream and coverage
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his Fourth State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 22, 2019.

TIME AND VENUE OF THE ANNUAL CEREMONY

While the preparations are all set, there's also a Plan B in case the government identified it is not safe to hold the ceremony at Batasang Pambansa due to COVID-19 threat.

The SONA may be transferred to Rizal Hall in Malacañang Palace depending on the results of the COVID-19 testing for officials physically attending the event.

Report said that Duterte, 75, rejected earlier proposal to deliver his SONA via videoconferencing from Malacañang to protect him from possible exposure to the deadly disease.

UPDATE: Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the FINAL decision is for Duterte to hold SONA event at the Batasan Pambansa.

The traditional ceremony is expected to start at 4 p.m. on Monday as the president will arrive by air or land.

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Unlike in the previous SONA, there will be no entourage to welcome the President as he enters the Batasan premise.

The number of guests will be limited to 50, including security groups, Palace staff, 13 from the House of Representatives and 12 from the Senate.

On the same day, the Senate and the House of Representatives will open their Second Regular Session for the 18th Congress.

Blockbuster movie director Joyce Bernal will direct again Duterte's SONA. She said it would be “very Pinoy.”

“Para sa mga tao naman so ibang flavor naman. Pinoy na Pinoy. Mas maiintindihan, mas magaan,” Bernal told the press.

Bernal added that her team has pre-recorded most parts of the program except for the speech of the President.

There will be no live singing of the national anthem but only a recorded media playback of chosen children from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

SONA 2020 MESSAGE, HIGHLIGHTS

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar said on Friday that the President’s speech will highlight policies and pronouncements that are much needed at this time, especially in balancing the health sector preparedness and opening more economic activities amid the pandemic.

The conducted three-part pre-SONA forum, he noted, has already comprehensively discussed the accomplishments and future steps of every Cabinet cluster, which has helped in preparing a shortened version of the SONA speech.

“Yung sasabihin ni Presidente sa darating na State of the Nation Address ay yung mga piling-piling mahahalaga at yung mga gustong malaman ng ating mga kababayan [In his State of the Nation Address, the President will include what is important and what the people want to know],” he said during a radio interview.

LIVE STREAM AND COVERAGE

As additional restriction, only the state-run Presidential Broadcast Staff-Radio Television Malacañang (PBS-RTVM) will be allowed to cover the event at Batasan. The SONA 2020 will be aired via live stream on the government's channel PTV, Presidential Communications Facebook page, and RTVM YouTube channel.

SEE ALSO: Duterte SONA 2020 to air live and unedited – RTVM exec

Mainstream media like ABS-CBN, GMA-7, TV5 and CNN Philippines were advised to hook up on centralized livestreaming service of RTVM for their updates and coverage.

Watch President Duterte's SONA 2020 speech via live streaming here:



NOTE: Stay tuned on this site for the coverage of Duterte's 5th SONA.

— The Summit Express


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