QUEZON CITY -- House of Representatives Secretary-General Reginald Velasco on Tuesday led the first inter-agency coordination meeting to discuss preparations for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) to be held on July 24, 2023. 

Sec-Gen Velasco explained that the meeting was held because “We want to make sure that the guests who will be listening to the SONA are comfortably seated, and also that the media is situated in a place where they can cover the SONA and the proceedings.”

House Inter-Parliamentary and Public Affairs Department (IPAD) Deputy Secretary General (DSG) Atty. Grace Andres, Legislative Operations Department (LOD) DSG Atty. David Robert Amorin, Committee Affairs Department DSG Jennifer Baquiran, Engineering and Physical Facilities Department (EPFD) DSG Engr. Floro Banaybanay, Administrative Department DSG Dr. Ramon Ricardo Roque, CESO I, Diplomate, as well as Sergeant-at-Arms PMGen (Ret.) Napoleon Taas during the meeting elaborated on SONA preparations, possible scenarios, room assignments, holding areas, emergency preparedness, as well as medical and security updates.

According to Sec-Gen Velasco, the topmost concern is the security of the President, the Vice President, all the high-ranking officials, as well as the guests. “We have to be sure that the security arrangements are in place,” Sec-Gen Velasco said. 
Emergency procedures, including the provision of ambulances with life support system, and the allocation of hospital beds in the nearby areas were also discussed during the meeting, “So that in the event, God forbid, of any emergency, ambulances and hospital beds are ready to care of all those who will be requiring medical care,” he added. 

Sec-Gen Velasco described the coordination meeting as “very successful. In fact, the atmosphere was friendly and there was this atmosphere of cooperation and joy. I don’t know if this has happened in the past. But today, I can see that everybody, all agencies, all the officials here are happy that there is this coordination meeting before SONA so that they are all abreast with the preparations and know what to do come SONA Day.”

Attendees to the SONA coordination meeting were officials from key agencies namely, the Senate of the Philippines, House of Representatives, Office of the President and the Department of Foreign Affairs, which coordinates with the diplomatic corps as part of the regular invitees to the SONA.

Another inter-agency coordination meeting will be held a few days before the SONA. (Congress)