House session hall gets sprucing up for SONA

The newly renovated session hall of the House of Representatives (HOR) is now ready for the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. slated on Monday, July 25.

In Tina Panganiban-Perez’s report on “24 Oras," House secretary general Mark Llandro Mendoza said the renovation of the hall, some offices and other facilities at the Batasang Pambansa complex reached P100 million.

“Ngayon, elevated na yung seating arrangement natin. ... Noong 306 nga sobrang siksikan na pero ngayon kasi, we're also preparing na mag-face-to-face na rin yung sessions. Dinesign sya mga 300 to 350 ang pwedeng umupo sa session hall,” Mendoza said.

As part of the security measures, the complex will be on lockdown starting 12 midnight of Friday, July 22. Stricter checkpoints and gun ban will also be implemented in Metro Manila until July 27, 2022.

State forces are also gearing up for the address including the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) which conducted a simulation exercise and a fire drill today.

“Nakahanda po ang PNP natin in any eventualities na dadating,” QCPD director Brigadier General Remus Medina said.

Meanwhile, progressive group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) said it will continue to hold protests after the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Security (QCDPOS) denied its permit to rally along Batasang Pambansa.

QCDPOS explained it will only allow protests to be staged at the QC Memorial Circle, the University of the Philippines campus, and inside the premises of the office of the Commission on Human Rights.

“Tuloy ang protesta sa Lunes at ito ay nakabatay sa ating constitutional right para mapayapang magpahayag at maghayag ng ating saloobin at issues na kinakaharap ng ating bayan,” Renato Reyes, BAYAN secretary general, said.

A pro-Marcos group likewise asked for permission to rally at the venue, the QCDPOS said.

“Wala pang action eh. Kasi yung venue na hinihingi nila, tapat ng HOR. Syempre lahat dineny natin, walang pumayag,” QCDPOS head Elmo San Diego said.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA News