House ready to host simple, focused SONA

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July 26, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is ready to host a “simple, dignified and focused” State of the Nation Address (SONA) tomorrow, as lawmakers await President Marcos Jr.’s assessment of the country’s condition and the policies Congress would be asked to support through legislation.

Bulacan 5th District Rep. Agatha Paula Cruz said the House and the Office of the President had agreed on a simple program, with no red carpet or long gowns. Instead, lawmakers were asked to wear simple Filipino attire.

“The reminder to us was to wear simple Filipiniana attire. That was the only directive so the focus remains on the main agenda of the SONA,” she said.

The SONA will coincide with the opening of the second regular session of the 20th Congress.

According to a dzBB report, House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil confirmed that the House had sent an invitation to Vice President Sara Duterte.

Duterte, however, is expected to skip this year’s address for the second straight year as her office earlier announced that she would be out of the country from July 16 to 31 for a trip covering Qatar, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

Duterte is currently facing trial before the Senate impeachment court over allegations of misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds, untruthful declarations in the filing of her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, unexplained wealth and death threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez.

Despite the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Duterte, Cruz said the trial would not prevent Congress from carrying out its legislative responsibilities, expressing confidence that the Senate could continue performing its work both as a legislative chamber and as an impeachment court while the House builds on its legislative momentum.

Meanwhile, lawmakers said they expect the President to focus on governance and key legislative priorities in his address.

Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Robert Nazal said the public is expecting “less politics and more governance” in the President’s address, with policies centered on uplifting the lives of the people and improving the country’s standing in the near and long term.

Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Elijah San Fernando, for his part, urged the President to use the power of his office to certify pro-worker measures as urgent, as he gave the administration a “failing grade” on labor and economic relief.

He pointed out that millions of Filipino workers, micro-business owners and consumers continue to bear the burden of low wages, precarious employment and rising living expenses while landmark pro-worker legislation remains stalled in Congress.

He also raised concern over the lack of concrete legislative progress for the labor sector four years into Marcos’ term.