Marcos 'on top' of his SONA — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is «on top» of his State of the Nation Address (SONA) and is in the process of «finalizing» his speech, Malacañang said Wednesday.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said that Marcos has no engagement on Wednesday because «he is preparing for the SONA.»

The President is writing his own speech for his SONA, the PCO added.

Speaking to reporters last week, Marcos said issues likely to be tackled are the «different threats that have been coming to us,» including the state of the economy, the government's fight against criminality and illegal drugs, as well as Filipinos' quality of life.

The President also recognized the challenge of squeezing all relevant national concerns in an hour-long speech, so the administration is preparing a briefer to supplement the SONA and allow the public to understand his policies.

«For people to know what we are doing and if the promises we made are really fulfilled. And that's basically what the SONA is going to look like,» Marcos said in a media interview.

«So, I will report if what we started is really continuous and progress is still good and how long it will take to finish those big projects,» he added.

Marcos is set to deliver his SONA on Monday, July 22, at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, which, according to the House of Representatives, is likely to have the highest attendance in history with over 2,000 guests.

Article 7, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution requires the President to «address the Congress at the opening of its regular session.».

The Philippine president delivers the SONA every year, usually held every last Monday of July, to report the state of the country, unveil the administration's agenda for the coming year, and ask Congress to pass priority legislative measures.