[5] A noted absence was Vice President Sara Duterte, who self-appointed herself as the "designated survivor", although she did not elaborate further on what she meant with the term which is only relevant to a contingency plan in the United States presidential line of succession.

[6] Likewise, her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and her predecessors Leni Robredo, Jejomar Binay, and Noli de Castro did not attend the SONA.

[7][8] Duterte-allied Senators Bong Go and Ronald dela Rosa were also absent, with Go citing medical reasons, although they were able to attend the opening of the third regular session of the 19th Congress earlier that day.

They voiced out issues faced by various sectors, including inflation, workers’ salary, the South China Sea dispute, and human rights violations.

It was marred by the collapse of an LED screen due to heavy rains and strong winds brought about by the southwestern monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Gaemi (Carina),[20] injuring one personnel.