Early coordination between the Senate and House of Representatives on the 2026 State of the Nation Address has begun, with both chambers agreeing to trim the event’s scale given the current political climate.
Senate Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza and House Secretary-General Cheloy Garafil convened at the Senate in Pasay City for what Mendoza described as a preliminary planning session. He said the meeting was called ahead of schedule precisely because July is approaching fast and because developments between now and then remain uncertain.
“Inagahan na namin kasi July na eh. Baka may mangyari before doon kaya nag-usap na kami ng preparations for the SONA. ‘Yung mga normal na pinag-uusapan—security at preparations ng co-chambers,” Mendoza said.
Both Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III have signed off on a more restrained approach to this year’s ceremony. Mendoza said the tone of the event would be deliberately subdued.
“Simple lang. Mas simple pa sa dati… Because of what’s happening right now, tame down muna,” he said.
Mendoza clarified that the pending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte did not come up during the meeting. He said future planning sessions will also involve representatives from the executive branch.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his fifth SONA on July 28, the fourth Monday of the month, as mandated by the 1987 Constitution. Under Article VII, Section 23, the President is required to address Congress at the opening of its regular session — an obligation that doubles as a major political occasion for laying out the administration’s agenda for the year ahead.
Congress is scheduled to adjourn sine die on June 5 before resuming session on July 27.
