Naniwala si Deputy Majority Leader at Camiguin lone district Rep. Xavier Jesus “XJ” Romualdo na magiging ligtas ang Batasan Complex para kay Pangulo Duterte sa Hulyo 27 sa paghahatid niya ng kanyang State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“I’m confident that the Executive Branch and Congress will be able to implement measures that will keep the President and all attendees and staff safe,” sinabi ni Romualdo.

Inanunsyo ng Malacanang nitong Lunes na si Pangulong Duterte ay pisikal na ihahatid ang kanyang taunang SONA sa Batasan Complex sa Quezon City sa kabila ng pagbabanta ng COVID-19.

Kamakailan ay kinumpirma ng House of Representative ang ika-17 na kaso ng COVID-19 nitong Lunes.

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Sinabi ni Romualdo, miyembro ng malakas na Rules Committee, na ang SONA ngayong taon ay ioobserba ang mga kinakailangang pagbabago ayon sa idinidikta ng kasalukuyang krisis sa kalusugan.

“Delivering the SONA in person in the Batasan would certainly be more risky in terms of the President, senators, congressmen, other attendees, and all the personnel and staff working in the background having some exposure to one another but I think the risks can be properly mitigated,” aniya.

“It’s been reported that only 50 people will be allowed in the session hall and physical distancing will surely be imposed. Since it will be quite a small (number of) SONA (attendees), the number of personnel and staff allowed inside the House of Representatives Complex could be restricted too and I’m sure everyone allowed inside will undergo health checks and screening for COVID-19 symptoms,” ani Romualdo.

Sinabi ni Romualdo na habang wala siyang nakikitang problema sa virtual na paghahatid ng Pangulo ng kanyang SONA sa taong ito, lubos niyang nakukuha kung bakit pinipili ni Duterte na manatili sa tradisyon.

“That the President will address Congress at the start of our regular sessions is, after all, a presidential duty imposed by the Constitution and so I understand why the President would want to do it in person and not through virtual means,” aniya.