RTVM to handle production in Marcos’ SONA 2023, says House exec

Radio Television Malacañang will handle the production during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s second State of the Nation Address on July 24, a House official said on Monday.

Asked Paul Soriano will again direct the production like he did in Marcos' first SONA in 2022, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said, "“The RTVM will take care of it.

Soriano is the presidential adviser for creative communications.

“The RTVM will take care of it. They have veterans there, and we were told na kayang kaya nila ‘yan (They can do the job well),” Velasco said.

”These RTVM people...in all the events where the President is the main guest or the keynote speaker, they provided coverage, so they already know what to do. That is the information we got,” he added.

Asked why Soriano won't ne directing SONA 2023, Velasco said, "I don’t know. That is just the information we got in today’s final meeting of the inter-agency committee taking care of the SONA preparation."

“It is the prerogative of the Office of the President and the Presidential Communications Office. That is the only information we got,” Velasco said.

Velasco said that the Batasang Pambansa Complex, the venue of the President’s second SONA, will be on lockdown starting Thursday this week (July 20).

“In terms of preparation, we are 95% [done], including physical arrangements and security. All invitations have been sent and we are just waiting for the final guest list of offices. We hope to get it by today,” Velasco said.

“We are confident that everything will be all set by Friday [this week] for the technical rehearsal. There will be a simulation [of what will happen on the 24th],” he added. —NB, GMA Integrated News