Batasan complex on lockdown for Marcos' first SONA —exec

The Batasang Pambansa Complex, home of the House of Representatives, is placed on lockdown as part of security measures for President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25.

Interviewed on GMA News' Unang Balita on Friday, House Secretary General Llandro Mendoza also said it's all systems go for the event.

"We're all systems go na po tayo sa Batasan. Nag-start po tayo simula kagabi ng lockdown, full lockdown po tayo sa House. So more security preparations na lang po ang ginagawa po natin," he said.

(We're all systems go here in Batasan. We started the lockdown last night, the House is on full lockdown. So now we are only working on more security preparations.)

Mendoza said those who will enter the plenary and main building will have to present a negative RT-PCR test result 48 hours before the SONA.

He also said around 90% of the more than 1,300 guests invited to the SONA have already confirmed their attendance.

The program and the physical arrangement for Marcos' first SONA will be "simple," according to him.

Limited, no-fly zones

Meanwhile, The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Friday said it will be enforcing limited and no-fly zones at the Batasan Complex and its immediate vicinity from July 23 to 25.

The move is meant to “ensure security and safety during the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on July 25 (Monday),” CAAP said in a statement.

The agency said it has already issued NOTAM or “Notice to Airmen B2088/22” as an advisory for the said event.

Full capacity

Earlier, Mendoza said full capacity will be allowed in the House during the SONA amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around 1,200 people will be allowed inside the Congress, including over 300 congressmen, 24 senators, and members of diplomatic corps. However, only a limited number of guests and members of the press will be allowed in the gallery.

Over 21,000 security forces will be deployed to secure the event, the (PNP) Philippine National Police earlier said.

The deployment is composed of 16,964 from the National Capital Region Police Office, 1,905 from PNP support units, and 2,974 from coordinating agencies and other peacekeeping partners.  —KBK/RSJ, GMA News