PREPARATIONS for the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. are now in their final stages, according to the Presidential Security Group (PSG).
PSG Commander Ramon Zagala said they are now wrapping up their preparations for the event on July 25, 2022 at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.
“So, these preparations are being planned since last week and…we at PSG, we are prepared in coordination with the Philippine National Police so that everything will go smooth, from the time he arrives, he delivers his SONA until he returns to Malacañan Palace,” Zagala told reporters in an interview on Wednesday.
He said they coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and relevant agencies in securing the venue for the event, which is usually marked by protests. PSG said it hopes these measures will ensure no untoward incident will happen next Monday.
As of Wednesday, Zagala said they have yet to receive any report of any plot to derail the conduct of the SONA.
PNP earlier said over 20,000 personnel from the PNP, PSG and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be deployed in Quezon City to secure the event.
Strict health protocols will also be in place.