[1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, there was uncertainty on whether President Rodrigo Duterte would be physically present in the Session Hall of the Batasang Pambansa Complex to deliver his annual State of the Nation Address.

The House of Representatives has also issued an advisory allowing only the government-owned Radio TV Malacañang (RTVM) to set up broadcast equipment for the said event and will be fed for use by other media entities.

[7] Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel, who was among the expected attendees, test positive[8] and so was six personnel from Malacañang who were part of the technical team of the event.

Also among the proposed measures were the creation of new government agencies such as a Department of Overseas Filipinos to focus on Filipino migrant workers, a Department of Disaster Resilience to spearhead in disaster response, a National Disease Prevention and Management Authority which will equip the country from future disease outbreaks and a Boracay Island Development Authority that will oversee the post-rehabilitation aspect of Boracay Island.

Drilon previously challenged Duterte to prioritize an anti-dynasty law if the latter wanted to dismantle oligarchy in the country[14] however, he clarified after the speech that he "never mentioned the children of the President.