Batasan Pambansa building undergoes makeover for Duterte's 2nd SONA

Improvements at the Batasan Pambansa building in Quezon City have started in preparation for President Rodrigo Duterte's second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24.

A report on GMA News' Unang Balita said floors at the Batasan building's lobby are being fixed and old pictures at the House of Representatives' gallery are being replaced.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms of the lower chamber assured that it has prepared security measures in and outside the complex.

The report said that according to the Philippine National Police, it has not received any specific threat to Duterte's second SONA.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde had said that at least 6,000 policemen will be deployed in and outside the Batasan Pambansa Complex during the second SONA.

Albayalde had said that activist groups will be allowed to get near the Batasan Pambansa Complex gates.

Protesting groups will be restricted to only a few lanes along Commonwealth Avenue, which leads to the Batasan area, to ease traffic flow during the event.

Schools in Quezon City will be closed during the second SONA. —Rafeea Custodio/ALG, GMA News