MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III's first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday is a working day.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said on Wednesday that July 26 will not be a declared a holiday.

Under the Arroyo administration, some of the SONA days were declared holidays to help quell protests.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has already met with militant groups planning to hold demonstrations on the day of the SONA.

The demonstrators are asking authorities to allow them to hold their activity right in front of the Batasan complex, and not be restricted to the Ever Gotesco mall, several hundred meters from the lower House.

More than 8,000 policemen will be deployed to ensure peace and order in the area near the Batasan on Monday. With a report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News