Philippine govt declares Monday non-working day as Arroyo due to address congress

The Philippine presidential palace Friday declared next Monday a special non-working day in Metro Manila as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will deliver her annual State of the Nation Address to a joint session of congress, also known as SONA.

"In order to encourage and give opportunity to Filipinos to listen to the address of the president and be involved in the affairs of the country, it would be best to declare Monday, July 25, 2005 as a special non-working day in Metro Manila," said an official statement signed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

But government offices will be open during regular working hours and provide regular service to the public, said the statement.

Ermita said the government's intelligence units have received information that the opposition would organize rallies to disrupt the SONA address.

The Philippine military said Friday it will return to the highest alert status on Sunday to face possible threats to public security in Metro Manila during the SONA address Arroyo will deliver at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.

Her last SONA address won wide support at the congress as she delivered her 10-point agenda centered on fiscal reform and anti-poverty programs.

But within one year, Arroyo is under great pressure from the opposition and some of her former allies to resign over alleged election fraud and corruption charges against her family.

This year's SONA address coincides with the opening of the second session of the 13th congress, upon which time some opposition lawmakers are expected to file an impeachment complaint against the president.

Anti-government forces have also announced their plans to hold rallies during the SONA address, while Arroyo's supporters will stage a counter-protest.

Some opposition lawmakers said they would boycott the SONA and opposition senator "Ping" Lacson delivered his own "state of the nation address" to the media on Friday, accusing Arroyo of government failure.

Source: Xinhua