MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang may hire interpreters for President Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24 because of his tendency to deliver adlibs in the local dialect.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said some foreign guests may not understand statements delivered in Binisaya or Tagalog.

“Our problem is although everyone understands English, sometimes, the President talks in Bisaya, sometimes he speaks in Tagalog, so the foreign dignitaries might not understand him,” Andanar told radio station dzBB in Filipino yesterday.

“Sometimes the President delivers off-the-cuff statements, right? If he talks in Bisaya, for example and the interpreter knows Bisaya, Tagalog or English, it would be better and easier to understand,” he added.

“For most of them, English is really the second language, so we are thinking of hiring (interpreters).”

Duterte did not follow the prepared speech during his first SONA last year and made impromptu comments on several issues.

No fashion show

While the SONA is an opportunity for lawmakers and guests to show their lavish and pompous dresses, Duterte does not want the event to become a fashion show, according to Andanar.

“He wants it to be simple,” Andanar said.

“I am sure this SONA will be simple just like in the previous year. The lavish dresses will not be showcases… Maybe our reporters will have a hard time looking for beautiful designer clothes,” he added.

Andanar said agencies are still threshing out the details of the President’s annual address.

“I cannot say if the SONA would be a speech about his accomplishments in the last 365 days and more. I am not also sure about the topics. We are still completing the address and I do not want to preempt the contents of the SONA,” Andanar said.

“There are nitty-gritties that have been threshed out. We are still awaiting some agency reports,” the PCOO chief said.