CENTRAL LUZON OBSERVER

Even as the country is facing the worst ever economic recession in decades, the government is set to spend P22 million for what is supposedly President Arroyo’s last State of the Nation Address on July 27, making it the most pompous and extravagant Sona in Philippine history.

At a press briefing, Speaker Nogie Nograles of Davao City through House secretary general Marilyn Yap bared preparations for the President’s Sona, which includes the extraordinary physical improvement of the Congress building, is almost 65 percent to 70 percent complete.

The building has been undergoing rush renovation for the past three weeks, particularly the second and third floors of the edifice with the flooring’s vinyl tiles replaced at a staggering cost of P20 million.

Yap said the lawmakers’ swivel chairs at the plenary, which are almost 10 years old, will be replaced.

Aside from the cost of the renovation, Yap said the House has allotted an additional P2 million for food, Sona kit, identification cards, transportation for dignitaries, cocktails, security and other miscellaneous expenditures on the day of the Sona.

The House secretary general also bared Speaker Nograles' innovations for the first time, this year’s Sona will break tradition as the House is set to deploy its own Parliamentary Guard or Congressional Honor Guards who will provide arrival and departure honors for the President and other visitors.

In the past Sonas, it was either the Philippine National Police or the Armed Forces of the Philippines that provided Honor Guards for the President.