MANILA - Incoming House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has asked congressmen to ditch the fashion show during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) and instead wear simple business attire.

"SONA yung pupuntahan natin hindi party," Alvarez said Friday.

"Okay lang, if they are comfortable being overdressed," he quipped, when asked what if some would still wear flashy clothes.

Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe supported Alvarez, saying they should follow the simplicity of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Alisin na po natin red carpet na nangyayari sa SONA, parang Oscar, FAMAS," Batocabe said. "Ang importante sa SONA ay ang Pangulo at kung anong sasabihin niya sa bayan."

For his part, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat stressed that the SONA is a "very serious" event and the red carpet show may be "distracting."

"Imbes na pagtuunan ng pansin kung ano yung patakaran ng Pangulo, paniniwala, saloobin, ano priority bills, minsan nabibigyan pansin ano sinuot. I have nothing against wearing what you want to wear, ibagay mo naman sa okasyon. And the SONA is the highlight of the year for Congress," he said.

"Minsan nagsusuot kasi gusto ipahiwatig adbokasiya, mga kaibigan sa Makabayan. Maaari yun sa akin, but as a fashion statement, idaan natin sa tamang lugar. Ang masama eh yun pa mas nabibigyan ng focus."

Baguilat said he hopes to wear his traditional Ifugao attire someday to show his pride in being an indigenous person.

"That's one of my ambitions, personal life-long dream bago matapos yung aking term: makapagbahag sa loob ng plenaryo. Maybe not this SONA, let's give the President due respect na siya dapat bigyan pansin. Hopefully, in the future, para ma-educate ang publiko sa katutubo. Ang pagbahag karangalan kasi. Minsan may diskriminasyon sa katutubo pag nakabahag, di ka civilized. That's the reason why I really emphasized pride in g-string, marami na nahihiya," he said.

Batocable, meanwhile, believes the SONA will push through despite rumors there won't be one.

"Definitely, mag-speech po siya (Duterte). Siya magbibigay ng direksyon saan kami pupunta, ano tatahaking landas, siyempre para malaman ng taongbayan ang programa ng gobyerno. Nakalagay po sa Constitution may State of the Nation Address," he said.

He said, however, that he sees nothing wrong if the President decides to make his annual report to the nation from Malacañang.

"Wala po kaming problema diyan, di tinututulan. Basta nag-report... Kahit sa Davao," he said.

READ: Duterte won't deliver SONA in Batasan?