Gov't to spend around P20M for food on SONA 2024, House SecGen says

The government will spend around P20 million for the food of over 2,000 guests for the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, Secretary General Reginald Velasco said Tuesday.

“The [food budget] is around that figure of [P20 million], but we cannot reveal [the final figure yet] since caterers also have security concerns. We cannot reveal yet due to security concerns,” Velasco said.

Velasco said this covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for the July 22 event which will be held at the House of Representatives.

“It’s not too costly. Our security personnel alone are in the hundreds. The Congress personnel is at 2,000 to 3,000, then the guests are around 2,000. That's (amount) just about right,” Velasco added.

Velasco then said that the confirmed number of attendees of over 2,000 is possibly the "highest in history."

“I think this will be the biggest [number of SONA attendees] in history, by the number of confirmations we have received. They really want to hear the President or they want to be involved in the state affairs. Being invited to the SONA is an honor,” Velasco said.

No VP Sara yet

Velasco, however, said Vice President Sara Duterte is not part of those over 2,000 confirmed guests as of Tuesday. 

“We cannot speak for the Vice President. Let her and the office decide if they will attend or not,” Velasco said.

“Wala namang pilitan dito sa SONA. It's based on your desire, whether you want it or you don't. We cannot force anyone. Even the members of the House and the Senate, it depends on them if they want to attend,” Velasco added.

(We don't force anyone to attend the SONA.) 

Velasco, in the same interview, said the Vice President is expected to inform the House if she will be able to attend the third SONA within the day.

Velasco, however, clarified that there is really no deadline for confirmation for VIP guests like the Vice President.

“We can’t impose any deadline [on VIPs]. They can confirm their attendance or cancel at the last minute. That is their privilege. We will adjust accordingly [if people are unable to attend],” Velasco said, adding that Vice President Duterte’s predecessor, former Vice President Leni Robredo, attended all six SONAs of former President Rodrigo Duterte based on House records.

Vice President Duterte, who ran and won the post with the President as her running mate, recently resigned from the Marcos Cabinet as Education Secretary and vice chairperson of the government’s anti-insurgency task force. —VAL, GMA Integrated News