Marcos set to deliver 3rd SONA

All hands are on deck as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday amid the escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea and the downfall of his alliance with Vice President Sara Duterte.

As of Sunday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have started to deploy some 24,000 personnel around the Batasang Pambansa Complex—the home of the House of Representatives which is the venue for SONA.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also said it is prepared to ensure the security of the President and the dignitaries for SONA.

Congress will open its third regular session earlier on Monday, while Marcos will deliver his third SONA in the afternoon.

What to expect

The Marcos camp has not provided details as to the exact content of the third edition of his SONA. But whatever its message, tone or length, the Filipino nation is looking forward to hearing not just his plans but developments and concrete steps that were or are being undertaken to address national issues during the first two years of his administration.

Some of the current pressing issues include the rising conflict in the West Philippine Sea against global superpower China, which has prompted Manila to lodge diplomatic protests against Beijing, and officials from both countries to hold a bilateral meeting to manage the ongoing disputes in the region.

One of the most serious incidents in the disputed waters occurred on June 17, when a flotilla of China Coast Guard vessels overwhelmed and rammed a Philippine Navy rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) on a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal inside the country’s territory. The Chinese severely injured a sailor, seized firearms, destroyed vital equipment, deliberately damaged the boat and threatened Filipino troops with knives, axes and spears to prevent them from delivering supplies to the detachment on the BRP Sierra Madre.

The incident was considered the most violent Chinese action against the Philippines, triggering condemnation and alarm from several countries led by the United States.

In the face of China's hostility and aggression, Marcos has been vocal about his foreign policy's adherence to international rules-based order while strengthening the Philippines position by securing strategic alliances and defense cooperation with countries such as Japan, Australia and South Korea.

During the 2024 IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in May, the President said the vision of having a peaceful and stable South China Sea continues to be a ''distant reality.''

Aside from the WPS, Marcos is facing repeated calls to totally ban the operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country, a vast majority of which are run and manned by China-based companies.

This, as authorities conducted this year some of the major raids in POGO hubs which were involved in criminal activities, including those in the towns of Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga.

On July 12, Marcos vowed that his administration is focused on eradicating criminality, specifically the operations conducted by illegal POGOs.

Citing threats to national security, a number of senators have expressed hope that the President will announce a total ban on POGOs during his address to the nation.

The third SONA also coincides with the President’s supposed “break-up” with his 2022 UniTeam Alliance running mate, Vice President Sara Duterte. Duterte recently left the administration’s Cabinet when she resigned from the posts of Education Secretary and vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Duterte, who was present during Marcos’ first two presidential addresses, announced that she will not attend this year’s SONA.

In the same announcement, Duterte added she was appointing herself as the “designated survivor.”

The Vice President did not expound on her statement. A popular television series titled “Designated Survivor" had the US president delivering his State of the Union address at the US Capitol when bombs suddenly destroyed the building. The attack results in the deaths of numerous attendees, including the president and public officials in the line of succession.

Aside from sharing his plans to address the country’s challenges, Marcos is also expected  to summarize his administration's achievements over the past two years.

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, one of Marcos staunchest allies, earlier said the SONA would not just outline the President’s plans for the coming years, but also provide a comprehensive overview of the administration's progress.

Protests

Even as the President speaks to the country this afternoon, other voices will also compete to be heard through demonstrations from various progressive organizations and groups supporting Marcos.

As of Friday, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said that two to three groups already applied for a permit to hold rallies on the day of the SONA.

Bayan said the groups would protest the supposed “duplicity” and “failure of the government” in resolving the people's calls for wage hikes, decent jobs, and adequate social services.

The group said the featured effigy in the protest would symbolize the Marcos-Duterte feud as "they vie for power and influence while the rest of the nation is mired in poverty.”

Other symbolic displays include a large ball depicting the Bagong Pilipinas logo and an image of Marcos will be tossed around by SONA protesters.

“The ball is ‘Binobolang Pilipinas’ which refers to the empty promises of Marcos Jr and his  ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ slogan,” Bayan said.

The PNP earlier said it recommended allowing protesters only up to the Commonwealth Avenue-Tandang Sora Avenue intersection during the SONA to avoid heavy traffic near the Batasang Pambansa Complex.

Police also suggested to the Quezon City government that they allow pro-administration groups to gather around the Commission on Audit (COA) building area.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said on Saturday that local law enforcers would not arrest anyone who will be caught burning effigies during protests on Monday.

Road closures, class suspensions

The MMDA has implemented road closures and alternate routes in preparation for the SONA.

The southbound portions of Commonwealth Avenue will have a zipper lane to give way to officials and guests en route to the Batasang Pambansa.

The Batasan-IBP Road will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 8 a.m. as part of security measures.

Click here to know the alternate routes to avoid the expected heavy traffic along Commonwealth Avenue and around Batasang Pambansa Complex especially at about 3 p.m. when dignitaries start arriving.

The MMDA had also announced that the number coding scheme in Metro Manila will not be suspended on Monday.

For Monday, vehicles with plate numbers ending in the numbers 1 and 2 are not allowed to be on the roads from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Quezon City government also suspended classes in private schools at all levels on Monday.

Brigada Eskwela in public schools in the city have also been suspended. —RF/KG, GMA Integrated News