Preparations for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA) are in full swing at the Batasang Pambansa and while no final figures have emerged yet, the government has earmarked P20 million to spend on the annual program. A red carpet event known for its extravagance in recent years, Filipinos online have been up in arms about the P20-million allocation, saying it is too much for a one-day event, especially as many Filipinos still struggle to make ends meet.
House Secretary Reginald Velasco defended the budget on Wednesday, July 10, saying that the budget already “covers a range of essential expenses.” It was previously thought to cover only food for the guests, prompting one netizen to ask: “Will each of them get lechon?” “Every peso allocated for the SONA is carefully scrutinized and managed to reflect the significance of this Constitutionally mandated event while being conscious of public sentiments regarding the use of taxpayers’ money,” Velasco said in a press statement on July 10. Over the weekend, Bayan president Renato Reyes said the event “ showcases tone-deaf pageantry and overkill security .
” Reyes was reacting to Philippine National Police chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil, who called on activists to refrain from inconveniencing the public with protests. “If anything, the people have a right to protest the worsening crisis under this regime,” Reyes said. “Government gives workers a paltry P35 wage hike amid.
