PCOO to hold Zoom viewing rooms for Duterte's SONA —Andanar

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has prepared Zoom viewing rooms for selected individuals who cannot be in the same room with President Rodrigo Duterte as he delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview on Sunday, Andanar said three separate rooms for Zoom viewing have been prepared for some Cabinet officials, local chief executives and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials, and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

"Meron kaming isang room na para lang sa mga Cabinet members na hindi makakadalo doon sa actual SONA ay nandoon sa Zoom lahat, isang kuwarto manonood tapos ibu-buton na lang ni Joyce [Bernal]," he said.

Bernal has been tapped to direct Duterte's SONA for the third time.

"Meron din kaming pangalawang kuwarto. Ito naman ay para sa mga LGU at mga SK. Tapos 'yung pangatlo naman, meron din kaming para sa mga OFW. So buton-buton lang," he added.

Duterte's SONA is intended to be conducted at the Batasang Pambansa complex, where it is traditionally held, although Andanar said the event could be transferred to Rizal Hall in Malacañang depending on the results of the COVID-19 testing for physical attendees.

Officials from the House of Representatives earlier announced that lawmakers and staff who will be physically attending the SONA will have to undergo mandatory swab and rapid testing for COVID-19.

Duterte himself will undergo COVID-19 swab test on Sunday, according to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.

"Ang maaapektuhan lang kasi kapag nilipat doon sa Malacañang, siyempre liliit 'yung numero ng makakadalo," Andanar said.

"So imbes na 25 from the Senate, 25 na halo-halo na congressmen at ilang mga Cabinet members, kasi hindi naman lahat ng Cabinet members makaka-attend dahil sa dami din, ay kokonti pa ang makakadalo kung sa Rizal Hall gagawin," he added.

Andanar said Duterte had a rehearsal for his SONA on Friday night, with a final rehearsal expected to happen later in the day. He, however, said he has not yet read the speech of the President.

The communications secretary, nevertheless, said what the public wants to hear from the President's SONA is how the government could strike a balance between keeping the people safe and healthy as well as ensuring them of economic stability amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Kailangan balanse na malusog ako, mabubuhay ako, mabubuhay pamilya ko, at the same time, mabubuhay din ang pamilya ko dahil meron akong trabaho at may makakain. Kaya kailangan balanse," he said.

"'Yun ang gusto ng taong malaman. Palagay ko sa talumpati ni Presidente, masasagot ang mga katanungang 'yun," he added.

Duterte's penultimate SONA is set to take place at 4 p.m. on Monday, the day that the Senate and the House of Representatives will also open their Second Regular Session for the 18th Congress. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News