Manila: The presidential palace said President Benigno Aquino’s annual address will take place as scheduled tomorrow even in bad weather as militant groups vowed to persist with their demonstration, rains notwithstanding.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Aquino had prepared so much for his annual State of the Nation Address (Sona) — the President’s third since assuming office in June 2010 — that weather would not be much of a factor for the leader’s decision to proceed with the speech.

“After going through several drafts and countless hours of revising and re-writing, President Aquino is finally ready to deliver his third Sona at the opening of the Joint Session of the 15th Congress at the Batasan Pambansa in suburban Quezon City on Monday,” Lacierda said in a press conference aired over government-owned dzRB today.

The presidential spokesman said Filipinos can expect a “truthful, inspiring and defining” Sona.

The President will report his administration’s accomplishments and chart its direction for the next year.

Heavy floods

Poor weather conditions have prevailed in Metro Manila over the past several days. Since Thursday, the metropolis has been reeling under heavy floods as the combined effects of tropical depression Ferdie and a lingering low pressure brought rains over much of the national capital region.

Today, a domestic carrier cancelled at least six flights owing to inclement weather.

Heavy rains in Metro Manila and the northern Philippines yesterday left two people dead and six others missing. The bad weather has continued until today.

Meanwhile, some 6,000 members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be deployed in and around the Batasan Complex when Aquino delivers his Sona tomorrow before members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Aside from the police, some 700 soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines will also be at hand.

Maximum tolerance policy

PNP spokesperson Chief Supt Generoso Cerbo, Jr said the PNP will observe “maximum tolerance” in dealing with militants who have announced plans to mount a protest to coincide with Aquino’s address.

For its part, the left-wing umbrella group, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Nationalist Alliance or Bayan) said they expect Aquino to belt out his usual rhetoric during his annual address.

“The last two years of the Aquino government have been about failed promises of change and increased attacks on the people’s rights and livelihood,” Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr said. Bayan said they expect thousands of demonstrators to take part in the marches in Manila and other parts of the country despite the bad weather.

“For close to an hour, Aquino will try to enthral his allies in Congress with reports on so-called achievements that have little impact on the lives of the people. This includes the supposed 6.4 per cent economic growth, the Corona impeachment and the usual anti-corruption anecdotes,” he said.