MANILA – The state-run Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) will be directing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24, a House official said on Monday.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said the information came from the Office of the President (OP) and the Presidential Communication Office (PCO).

“The RTVM will take care of it… All the events where the President is the main guest or keynote speaker sila ang nagko-cover (they cover it), so they know what to do already. So ‘yun ‘yung info na nakuha namin (that’s the information that we received),” Velasco told reporters in an interview after the final inter-agency coordination meeting to discuss SONA preparations.

The Presidential Broadcast Staff-RTVM (PBS-RTVM) is mandated to provide audio and video documentation of the President’s official functions and activities, coverage and broadcast production of events of national significance, and special celebrations involving the President.

Velasco earlier announced that Presidential Adviser for Creative Communications Paul Soriano will direct this year’s SONA.

Velasco said the Batasang Pambansa Complex will be placed on full lockdown on Thursday as authorities prepare for the upcoming event.

Access to the premises is limited to authorized personnel.

“All the preparations have been done, physical arrangements, security. We are confident that by Friday everything will be ready,” he said.

The House official earlier said that the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) antigen test requirement for vaccinated guests and attendees of the SONA will be lifted.

Velasco, however, noted that the guests will still be required to present their Covid-19 vaccination cards, but the booster shots are unnecessary.

Unvaccinated guests and those with symptoms of Covid-19 shall be required to present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result 48 hours before the event. (PNA)