Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed dismay over the installation of tarpaulins for his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA), calling it 'highly inappropriate' given the ongoing monsoon rains and flooding in various parts of the country. 'It was a surprise. I only found out early this morning when I got up. That's what they're doing,' Marcos said Wednesday (Manila time) during a press conference with members of the Philippine media in Washington, D.C. 'It is highly inappropriate. Eh baha na nga, bakit pa kayo maglalagay diyan (It's already flooded, why are you putting those up)?'

According to Philippines News Agency, the President said the order to install SONA materials did not come from him and has since been halted. Marcos emphasized that the government's priority should remain on assisting affected communities, particularly in flood-hit areas across Metro Manila and nearby provinces, assuring the public that the lapse has been addressed. 'That is an unfortunate misjudgment on their part. But we've corrected it, and I trust it will not happen anymore,' he said.

On Tuesday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the President has ordered all SONA-related preparations suspended and directed all government agencies to focus on relief operations and assisting Filipinos amid the heavy downpour. Marcos is set to deliver his fourth SONA on Monday before a joint session of the 20th Congress at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City.