Duterte SONA at Batasang Pambansa to push through, thus far —Cayetano

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Sunday said that as of the moment, President Rodrigo Duterte's 5th State of the Nation Address will push through at the Batasang Pambansa complex.

Cayetano made the remark amid safety concerns being raised after 22 cases of COVID-19 have been reported from the House of Representatives.

"As of now, tuloy doon [sa Batasan] tomorrow pero 50 people lang ang papayagang pumasok. Kasama na ang kongresista, kasama na ang mga senador and of course ang ating Pangulo at kanyang mga kasama," the Speaker said in a Dobol B sa News TV interview.

According to Cayetano, it is best to hold Duterte's SONA at the Batasang Pambansa complex where it is traditionally held to show some "normalcy" to the public that the government is still working despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the other hand, he said they do not want new COVID-19 cases to originate from the House of Representatives.

Earlier, House officials announced that lawmakers and staff who will be physically attending the SONA will have to undergo mandatory swab and rapid testing for COVID-19.

COVID-19 swab tests are ongoing at the Batasang Pambansa complex.

LOOK: COVID-19 swab testing for House personnel ongoing ahead of President Duterte’s SONA tomorrow. (Contributed photos) @gmanews pic.twitter.com/oSfbtBKBAK

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) July 26, 2020

"So we will take all precautions. In fact I'm on the way ngayon to also be tested," Cayetano said.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano himself has taken a swab test for COVID-19 along with other House members and personnel.

(Contributed photo) pic.twitter.com/GyhEAWr5AZ

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) July 26, 2020

"Pero may backup plan pa rin. If they make the call na hindi magiging safe para sa lahat lalo sa ating Pangulo diyan sa Batasang Pambansa, even si Senate President Sotto na okay din siya sa Plan B," he added.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in an interview earlier in the day that Duterte's SONA may be transferred to Rizal Hall in Malacañang depending on the results of the COVID-19 testing for officials physically attending the event.

Cayetano also advised progressive groups planning to conduct mass demonstrations during the SONA to observe social distancing while conducting their protests.

"Tandaan niyo nasa Quezon City kami. Kaya nga pwedeng paalala sa ating mga kababayan, naiintindihan namin yung pusok ng damdamin, yung need na magprotesta, pero sana tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang social distancing at lahat ng pwedeng gawin na precaution," he said.

SONA expectations

In regard to what the public can expect from Duterte's penultimate SONA, Cayetano believes the President will give a message of hope amid the difficult situation the country, and the world in general, is facing.

"Yung life, yung buhay, yung health, and yung livelihood kasi marami talagang natatanggal sa trabaho at nagsasara na negosyo. So I think that will be the focus," he said.

Cayetano described the last four years of Duterte's term as "very controversial" and yet "very successful," considering that he went head on with corruption, drugs and other highly-contentious issues.

"I have no doubts that the government will meet the challenge, ang question kasi ay yung tinatawag namin sa Congress na AIM. Kung may goal ka, dapat asintado ka. So kailangan may AIM ka, adapt, innovate, and manage," he said.

"Nandun pa lang tayo sa managing, nag-aadapt nang konti, pero hindi pa tayo nag-iinnovate. So I would like to see after the SONA, a three-year or five-year plan para sa local tourism natin. I'd like to see a three to five-year plan para yung mga laboratories natin ma-upgrade," he added.

Duterte's 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. —LBG, GMA News