Duterte’s second SONA could take 1.5 hours –Malacañang

Off-the-cuff remarks and applause might stretch the length of President Rodrigo Duterte's second State of the Nation Address from 50 minutes to 90, Malacañang said Sunday.

"The speech is written in English, which the President is comfortable with, and if read straight should take approximately 50 minutes; given there will be pauses for applause and the off-the-cuff remarks, the speech may take about an hour and thirty minutes," Presidential Spokesman Ernesto C. Abella said in a statement.

"The President's State of the Nation will be rendered in broad strokes reviewing past achievements, stating the present situation, and announcing future prospects," he added.

For his part, House Deputy Secretary General Artemio A. Adasa, Jr. said Monday's SONA might take longer to deliver than last year's given the range of issues Duterte plans to tackle.

"Definitely, it will be focused on more or less three topics: prosperity for all," he said in a separate statement.

"He will focus more on the economic successes during his term; law and order, which will delve on crime reduction and the success of the anti-illegal drug campaign; and peace, with reference to the ongoing negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the submission of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) for his consideration, which is the end product of his negotiations by the peace panel," he added.

Duterte's speech last year lasted one hour and 32 minutes, the longest first SONA in history.

On Friday, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin M. Andanar said Duterte does not want his state address to go over 50 minutes.

"The President said he does not want his 'Written Speech' to go beyond 40 or 50 [minutes]," he said on Friday.

"He wants it direct to the point. I'm estimating the final draft to be between 15 and 18 pages," he added.

According to Abella, the SONA will be published online "shortly" after it is delivered by Duterte before lawmakers and guests at the Batasan complex on Monday.

"The President's Report to the People will be available online shortly after the President has spoken. On the whole it will be frank, challenging, realistic but hopeful," he said. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News