Disaster management would be highlighted during the 8th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the House of Representatives building in Quezon City on July 28.

This following the tragedies resulting from previous typhoons that passed the country. The president wants to ensure that a repeat of such incident in the future could be prevented through intensified disaster preparedness programs and updated rescue and relief operations guidelines. The speech, which is initially 10-page long, would also discuss the government’s social welfare program in response to the current global crisis stemming from the rising prices of oil and food. About 6,000 policemen and soldiers will be deployed by the government to secure the House of Representatives building in Quezon City during the president’s SONA.