Nograles cool to SONA postponement

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Prospero Nograles is not inclined to postpone the annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Arroyo if the Chief Executive will undergo self-quarantine after she returns from her trip abroad.

In a statement, Nograles said he is “not keen” on proposals to have the event postponed in light of the increasing number of Influenza A(H1N1) cases in the country, especially since the SONA on July 27 is still more than a month away.

“I’m not personally so keen about postponement of the SONA. The situation in the House is expected to stabilize and be contained by next week and the event is still on July 27, which is more than enough time to address the issue of A(H1N1),” he said.

The country’s as well as Asia’s first casualty of the virus was a 49-year-old female employee of the House of Representatives. Two other House employees have tested positive for the virus, but they are now recuperating at home.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Mrs. Arroyo will go on self-quarantine when she returns from her five-day visit to Brazil this weekend, as a precautionary measure and to set an example for efforts to slow down the spread of the A(H1N1) virus.

He said the Palace is open to the postponement of Mrs. Arroyo’s annual SONA when Congress opens next month as there are confirmed cases of A(H1N1) at the House.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who accompanied Mrs. Arroyo from Japan to Brazil, said they “will submit themselves to screening (at the airport) and for that matter, among themselves, they will undertake their own voluntary quarantine for several days.”

“I’m very sure when they return, they will submit to thermal scanning and at the same time the President will submit herself to self-quarantine – whether it’s five days or 10 days,” Ermita said.

He said while it would be hard for Mrs. Arroyo, who often visits the provinces, she would also be practicing “social distancing,” a measure recommended by the Department of Health, for several more days.

On suggestions the SONA be postponed, he said: “If it becomes serious, why not?”

“We have not discussed it (postponement of SONA). But that’s a long way and there would even be typhoons coming our way but that’s nothing. Remember self-quarantine is only 10 days,” Ermita said.

The House has shut down operations until Monday because of the death, due to complications, of one of its employees.

Catholic Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan, Samar said he supports the postponement of the President’s SONA if it would help prevent the spread of A(H1N1).

“If postponing the State of the Nation Address would be good for the people, then so be it. I am in favor of postponing the SONA of the President if this means saving the lives of the people” who would attend the occasion, said Bishop Varquez in an interview on the Church-run Radio Veritas.

He added that while the President is duty bound to give an annual report on the state of the country every year, he believes that the safety of the people is more important.

“Malacañang has to take into consideration the safety of the people over its own personal interest,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said in a separate interview that while he did not issue any circular on A(H1N1), he followed the example of some of his fellow bishops and has taken precautions against the disease.

“Maybe instead of blessing people, wherein his hand would touch their forehead, he might just tap their head and say pagpalain kayo ng Panginoon or God bless you,” he added. – With Evelyn Macairan