July 2024
Editor’s Note: This fact check has been updated to correct the date that the TikTok user uploaded their misleading video. An earlier version of the story stated it was uploaded on July 11. It was uploaded on July 10.
(UPDATED) A TikTok video claims that the government allocated P20 million for food at President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA), comparing it to the supposed P4.7 million spent for the same purpose by his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte in 2019. This is misleading.
The inaccurate video first played a clip from a July 9 News 5 Frontline Tonight report, about House Secretary General Reginald Velasco’s statement that they have earmarked P20 million for the food of over 2,000 guests and support staff for the SONA on July 22.
However, a few hours before the TikTok user uploaded the video on July 10, Velasco already clarified his statement. He said the amount he mentioned “represents the total budget for preparations and execution of the SONA” and not just on meals.
According to Velasco – as reported by Philstar.com, Inquirer.net, and GMA News – the P20-million budget covers:
- meals for all personnel, including internal staff, police, and MMDA officers, involved from preparatory activities through the actual day of SONA;
- three sets of uniforms for about 2,000 secretariat employees, which they can use during and also after the program;
- security expenses (personnel and equipment);
- inter-agency coordination meetings related to SONA preparations;
- invitations and giveaways for attendees;
- rental expenses for LED walls and other equipment needed for the event’s audiovisual enhancements;
- decorations for the venue; and
- other expenses, such as collaterals, communication requirements, and additional support from nearby hospitals, among others.
Meanwhile, the TikTok video also played a portion of GMA’s State of the Nation report from July 11, 2019, to support its claim that Duterte’s food budget for his SONA was P4.7 million only or less than a quarter of Marcos’ 2024 SONA budget.
This is inaccurate. The news clip did not say that this amount was solely for food. The report said that P4.7 million was the total expenditure for Duterte’s fourth SONA.
The video appeared a day after Velasco corrected his initial statement.
The misleading video published by TikTok user @gengar0701 has garnered over 351,000 views, 6,841 reactions, 2,442 comments, and 422 shares. It continues to gain traction as the SONA 2024 approaches.
The author is a University of the Philippines student writing for VERA Files as part of his internship.
