Senators call for toned-down SONA due to floods

Senators Loren Legarda, Joseph Victor Ejercito, and Juan Miguel Zubiri called for a toned-down observance of the 20th Congress opening and State of the Nation Address (SONA), citing ongoing flooding affecting many communities.

Legarda emphasized that the focus should be on addressing pressing issues such as severe flooding rather than elaborate ceremonies, urging government officials to use these occasions to address urgent environmental concerns.

Zubiri stressed the need for senators not to be indifferent to those affected by recent calamities and urged them to consider the plight of Filipinos wading through floodwaters.

Ejercito echoed Legarda's sentiments, emphasizing that the SONA should not be treated as a spectacle when many Filipinos are still suffering from disasters and urging officials to focus on addressing urgent issues.

Traditionally, senators walk the red carpet before attending the President's SONA at the Batasang Pambansa; however, this year, Senate leadership is considering canceling the event as a show of solidarity with those affected by flooding.