Ahead of SONA, Sotto hopes for positive future, Philippines testing negative for COVID-19

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday expressed hopes for a better future in the Philippines hours before President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to deliver his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA).

"God-permitting, every beginning is an opportunity for hope for a better tomorrow as individuals and as a nation," Sotto said in a tweet before the Senate session resumed.

"We have to be POSITIVE about the future, and be NEGATIVE of the COVID-19!" he added.

Sotto is among the eight senators who will physically attend the SONA in Batasang Pambansa later in the afternoon.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senators Pia Cayetano, Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, Sherwin Gatchalian, Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Bong Revilla, and Francis Tolentino will also be there.

They were all subjected to COVID-19 swab test on Sunday as part of the safety protocol for the SONA.

Their test results are expected to be released by noontime, Sotto said in a message sent to GMA News Online.

Malacañang said Duterte will present a COVID-19 recovery roadmap during his 5th SONA.

As of July 26, the Philippines recorded a total of 80,448 COVID-19 cases with 26,110 recoveries and 1,932 deaths. —KG, GMA News