Marcos finalizing SONA speech — Palace

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., is finalizing the content of his State of the Nation Address (SONA) ahead of its delivery on July 28, with the possibility of including issues related to trade with the US, Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin said on Sunday.

“The President has been involved very personally in the preparation of the SONA because that is the report to the people,” Mr. Bersamin said, according to a video sent to Palace reporters. “He always gives the highest importance, and I think he has already collected the material for his SONA, although we are still hoping or expecting that the President will consider more material.”

While Mr. Bersamin did not divulge specific talking points for the fourth SONA of the President, he said Mr. Marcos is focused on communicating the work of his administration to the public.

The SONA, an annual speech by the Philippine President to Congress, reports on the country’s current state and outlines policy priorities and legislative agenda for the coming year. It fulfills a constitutional duty and is typically delivered every fourth Monday of July.

Asked if the President would mention developments involving his official visit to the US this week, Mr. Bersamin said it was possible. “We can expect that. If he wants to include that, if there is anything worth reporting, we can expect.”

On online gambling, Mr. Bersamin reiterated that the President’s policy banning Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) remains unchanged since its announcement a year ago. “The President is very strong about POGOs, that’s already banned,” he said. However, he noted that other forms of online gaming not linked to scams or fraud are still under review.

“We are still looking into it because we have to see all the ramifications that gaming of that method may be allowed to operate.” — Chloe Mari A. Hufana