The House of Representatives will be spending P2.2 million for the sixth and last State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino III on July 27.
House Secretary General Marlyn Barua-Yap on Tuesday said much of the amount was earmarked for the food and other needed preparations for guests at the Batasan complex where Aquino would deliver his SONA.
Yap said however that the House did not spend any amount for the facelift of the Batasan Complex as partner agencies such as the Quezon City government, Public Works and Highways department and the Metro Manila Development Authority provided the budget and manpower to complete the renovation.
“Our last year’s budget was P2.3 million, this year we don’t want to exceed that budget. Our estimate is P2.2 million,” Yap said. “We managed to have savings but we don’t want to compromise the quality of the program, this is the last and we will make it special just like the other SONAs.”
Apart from the DPWH and the MMDA, other agencies which provided the support for the House for SONA preparations include Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Since the upcoming SONA of President Aquino III will be the last, Yap said the House—being the host agency for the even—would expect more visitors than the usual invitees.
As of press time, Yap said the House already sent 2,700 invitations.
The capacity of the plenary, where the President will deliver his SONA, has a capacity of 2,700. The guests entering the plenary should be inside the gallery one hour before the speech starts at 4 p.m.
Yap said those who will not be accommodated, according to Yap will be given seats in Andaya Hall where they can also hear the President’s speech via live streaming.
Meanwhile, Yap said those invited to join the President in a dinner after the speech was about 800 persons only.
The Center Table Catering Inc. was chosen to prepare the buffet that costs P700 per person.
Included in the menu are Black Angus with Soft pan Rolls with Caper Mayonnaise; Bacon Wrapped Chicken Rolls; Chicken Barbeque Kebabs; Eastern Shrimp Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce (spot cooking); Bread Sticks with Quatro Formaggio Artichoke Dip; Pasta Carbonara; Cappellini a la Puttanesca.
The President will also be offered with assorted cocktail sandwiches like Chicken Asparagus Rolls; Cheese Pimiento & Tuna Pinwheels; Crab & Olive Open-Faced Sandwich; Wasabi Burger; Cheese Platters. Desserts include Cream Puff, Chocolate Éclair; Fresh Fruit Pannacotta while the drinks are Green Tea and Raspberry Iced Tea.
Yap, meanwhile, said around 7,000 policemen and other security personnel will be deployed on Monday, July 27 to provide security to the President, government officials and the other guests
Aside from the internal security guards of the House, the PNP is also providing police force inside and outside the Batasan Complex.
“Every year, we get paranoid every time we hold the event. We want to ensure the security is enough,” Yap said.
The police will enforce a no-fly zone within one kilometer from t the Batasan perimeter from 1 p.m. until the program is completed.
