SONA 2024’s P20 million price tag justified, says Erwin Tulfo

The P20 million cost of staging President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) next Monday is justified because there must be no scrimping on security, among others, House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list lawmaker Erwin Tulfo said Thursday.

“With the security concerns, why would you have a [shoestring] budget for security when the government officials, dignitaries are there? We could end up a laughingstock if something happens. And so I agree with it,” Tulfo said.

According to the House of Representatives Secretary General Reginald Velasco, the P20 million covers:

• food and beverages for all personnel involved, including internal staff and external personnel such as police, MMDA officers, and other support staff, during the day of the SONA, and also for all preparatory activities leading up to the event
• uniforms for around 2,000 Secretariat employees (three sets of uniforms each), which will be used not only for the SONA but also for their day-to-day duties after the event
• security expenses, including personnel and equipment
• inter-agency coordination meetings of departments and agencies involved in the SONA preparation
• invitations and giveaways to attendees as a token of appreciation
• equipment rental expenses for LED walls and other equipment "needed to enhance the program’s audiovisual presentation and overall ambiance inside the plenary hall and within the vicinity of the Batasan Complex"
• potted plants and flowers, "which will serve as decorations for the venue for a welcoming and dignified atmosphere"
• other incidental expenses such as collaterals, communication requirements, and additional medical support from nearby hospitals

“We have to make sure that everybody will be safe. It is not only about the food, it is more on security, preparations, police and traffic personnel deployment. Same goes for the street sweepers. They have overtime pay too. And these personnel are already deployed in the area as early as Sunday,” Tulfo added.

He also stressed that the budget, which is mainly for security, is not due to the recent comments of Vice President Sara Duterte, who said she will skip the SONA because she has appointed herself as the “designated survivor.”

“No. They are just clearing every nook and cranny of Congress [Batasang Pambansa Complex],” Tulfo said.

A designated survivor is not provided under Philippine laws, but the US government policy designates an official in the line of succession to the presidency to the temporary position during events such as the State of the Union (SOTU) Address, which is the American counterpart of the SONA.

The concept has been popularized by the hit US television series of the same name, which follows the titular character as he assumes leadership after the president and the rest of the officials in the line of succession are killed in a blast during the SOTU. 

Duterte has had to follow up her remark, but still did not provide the reason for her missing the event. 

''Nagsabi na ako ng rason, akala nila joke o bomb threat. Hindi na ako magpaliwanag pa,'' she said.

(I already cited my reason, they thought it was a joke or bomb threat. I will no longer explain it.) 

“Nobody was discouraged to attend because of her remarks. And I have trust how the security [protocol] of Congress operates. The public has nothing to worry about,” Tulfo said.

He added, however, that the Vice President could have been more circumspect in announcing her decision to skip the SONA.

“Next time, we have to choose the right words when we speak, especially if we're high-ranking government officials. She does not wish anything ill, but there are those who will feel differently,” he added. — BM, GMA Integrated News