ACTING on the request of reelected Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, the House of Representatives has scaled down red carpet activities for this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), dropping traditional fashion coverage and ceremonial walk-ins in light of the massive flooding affecting many communities.
Atty. Princess Abante, spokesperson of the House of Representatives, said the changes were outlined in a memorandum issued by House Secretary-General Reginald “Reggie” S. Velasco to all members of the chamber.
The adjustments, she explained, are meant to demonstrate solidarity with disaster-hit areas and to preserve the solemnity of the national event.
“In view of the recent calamities affecting several regions of the country, the following adjustments will be implemented for the Opening of the 20th Congress and the State of the Nation Address on July 28, 2025,” the July 25 memorandum signed by Velasco said.
Abante clarified that “the red carpet will still be laid out for official protocol, but it will no longer be a platform for ceremonial arrivals or media spectacle.”
“There will be no staged ceremonies, no fashion coverage, and no photo setups in the red carpet area,” she said.
Only brief doorstop interviews will be allowed, and all media interactions will follow standard security and accreditation procedures.
Formal attire remains required, Abante emphasized, but members are “respectfully urged to avoid ostentatious displays” and to exercise discretion in their wardrobe choices. Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana remain encouraged to reflect the event’s dignity and solemnity.
Based on the memorandum, media access will be limited to accredited personnel and confined to designated areas such as the North and South Wing lobbies and press booths. All activities must strictly comply with House security protocols.
“These adjustments reflect our solidarity with affected communities and our commitment to uphold the dignity of this national gathering,” Velasco wrote.
The move follows an earlier appeal by Rep. Romualdez, who served as Speaker of the 19th Congress, for colleagues and guests to tone down the pageantry in light of the storm damage and prolonged flooding in Luzon and other regions.
He stressed that the House aligns itself with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of a “Bagong Pilipinas”—a government that puts service, empathy, and accountability above spectacle.
In addition to the protocol changes, the House has also shifted its focus toward disaster response. Under the Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) Program, some P420 million in financial aid has been facilitated for flood victims across 42 districts in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, in line with the President’s directive for immediate assistance.
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