Palace mulls hiring interpreters for diplomats attending Duterte's 2nd SONA

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said they are considering hiring interpreters who will translate President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address (SONA) to attending diplomats.

"We are also thinking of hiring interpreters," Andanar said in a radio dzBB interview.

"Ang problema kasi natin, although lahat nakakaintindi ng English, minsan kasi bini-Bisaya ni Presidente, minsan tina-Tagalog, kaya baka hindi nila maintindihan," he added.

Duterte will be delivering his second SONA on July 24, where local officials and diplomats are expected to attend.

Andanar said preparations are currently underway for the annual event.

"'Yung iba naman nakakaintindi ng Tagalog, pero most of them, English. Kaya we are thinking of hiring [interpreters]," he said.

Brochures

In the same interview, Andanar said they will disseminate brochures to SONA attendees highlighting the accomplishments of the Duterte administration during his first year in office.

"Bukod doon sa simpleng SONA na gusto ni Presidente na walang tinatawag na fashion show, meron kaming pineprepare na parang brochure na may mga larawan ng mga proyekto ni Presidente na na-implement o siya mismo ang nag-groundbreak para ipapamahagi natin sa gallery," he said.

"We will give it away sa gallery habang nagsasalita ang Presidente," he added.

Duterte reached his first year in office last June 30. —Erwin Colcol/ALG, GMA News