No flag ceremony in Davao on Marcos third SONA; exec cites ‘bad weather’

The City Government of Davao did not hold a flag ceremony on Monday morning, 22 July 2024, in front of city hall due to “bad weather.” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his third SONA later in the day. MindaNews photo by IAN CARL ESPINOSA

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 22 July) – The City Government of Davao did not hold its regular weekly flag ceremony on Monday morning, July 22, the day set for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to deliver his third State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Melody Herrera, Human Resource Management Office officer-in-charge, told MindaNews that the city government cancelled the weekly flag ceremony due to “bad weather,” and not in any way connected with the President’s SONA.

The city experienced heavy rains over the weekend, but during the scheduled flag ceremony at 8 a.m. Monday, the weather measured 26 degrees Celsius, the sun shining, MindaNews observed on the site.

Marcos will deliver his third SONA at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City scheduled to start at 3 p.m. on Monday.

At least 2,000 guests have confirmed their attendance to the SONA. It was allotted with a budget of P20 million, which some groups slammed as “lavish and insensitive.”

The Marcos administration has been openly criticized by members of the city’s ruling Duterte family, including former President Rodrigo Duterte and Mayor Sebastian Duterte.

Last January 28, Mayor Duterte called on Marcos to resign.

“Mr. President, if wala kay gugma ug aspirations sa imohang nasod, resign!” (If you don’t have love nor aspirations for your country, resign!),” he said during the Hakbang ng Maisug Leaders Forum at the Grand Men Seng Hotel here.

About two weeks ago, Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of former President Duterte, said she will not attend the SONA, appointing herself  as “designated survivor.”

In the United States, a “designated survivor is a government official chosen to stay at a secure location during events where top leaders are gathered. This ensures continuity of government in case a catastrophic event kills or incapacitates the president, vice president, and other top officials.

Sara Duterte recently resigned from the Marcos Cabinet as Secretary of the Department of Education and vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)