A strong public backlash triggered by viral photos of State of the Nation Address preparations prompted Malacañang to suspend work for SONA arrangements.

The photos that saw print in the news media on Monday showed workers of the Department of Public Works and Highways putting up SONA promotion posters with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the center.

The photos were reportedly taken as heavy southwest monsoon rains poured nearly non-stop on Monday. The DPWH personnel were wearing raincoats and hats as they climbed an electric post to install Marcos’ posters.

They were spotted working notwithstanding a Malacañang announcement suspending regular work in all government agencies due to the heavy downpour on Monday.



President Marcos’ SONA at the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City is scheduled on July 28.

In a statement released on Tuesday (July 22), Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced that all SONA-related preparations were ordered suspended.

Bersamin said President Marcos was “dismayed” upon hearing reports that government personnel were busy preparing for the SONA while “many communities are battling heavy flooding.”

Bersamin also disclosed that the chief executive ordered the DPWH and other agencies tasked for the SONA preparations to instead “focus on flood response and relief operations.”