Sen. Mar Roxas yesterday said President Arroyo should not miss the opportunity to present to the people the real score on the crisis facing the nation and a doable plan to take the country out of the "emergency room" in her State of the Nation Address on Monday.

"Now that we’re in crisis, our people deserve to hear a believable SONA, not a make-believe story," he said.

"We don’t need another litany of achievements and new promises. We can’t have another SONA that only repackages existing projects under new names. We must move away from the political rhetoric of ‘Beat the Odds,’ ‘Super-Regions,’ ‘Noah’s Ark’ or ‘Katas ng VAT’—and move in on concrete solutions to alleviate the increasing pains of the needy," he said.

"Most of our people now are inclined to dismiss the upcoming SONA as a self-serving political show, or simply just tuning out because the past SONAs were been largely irrelevant to their lives. What they want to hear and see is an honest statement on the situation, an honest-to-goodness inventory of our resources and capabilities, and a clear road out of the deepening crisis," he added.

Roxas said the President must drop the "business-as-usual" attitude and adopt the manner of an emergency room specialist determined to save a victim in severe distress.

"Our priority now should be feeding our people before anything else.. Let’s stop all spending that only seeps out of the economy, and focus resources to help farmers harvest enough food for our needs," he added.

The Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) said its members will take a "union leave" on Monday to join other protesters against Arroyo’s policies.

Courage chair Ferdinand Gaite said members will be wearing their office uniforms to prove that they are legitimate government workers.

Courage has been pushing for a P3,000 across the board wage hike for government employees.

The youth group Anakbayan, along with the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines, will stage today a human chain, candle lighting and noise barrage in Quezon City as of protest actions in the countdown to the SONA.

"The Filipino youth and students are already looking forward and are expecting another round of lies, promises and political grandstanding from Mrs. Arroyo in her annual report to the nation," said Andrew Zarate, Metro Manila spokesperson of Anakbayan.

Zarate said plans for a "no-classes scenario" on Monday were in place.

The Gabriela Women’ Party said there can be no salvation for mothers and children under the leadership of Arroyo.

"With the meager allocation of P180 per Filipino from this year’s national health budget, mothers and children bear the heaviest blows of Arroyo’s neglect of health programs and services. The maternal mortality rate of 10 women a day is disturbing, while four million children are malnourished and the number is expected to balloon amid the series of hikes on oil and food prices," it said.

Cristina Palabay, Gabriela secretary-general, said the numbers show the insincerity of the Arroyo administration in delivering social services to mothers and children.

Militant groups have agreed to hold their protest actions on Monday in front of the Ever-Gotesco Mall and Litex road, both along Commonwealth avenue, in Quezon City.

NCRPO chief Director Geary L. Barias said the agreement was struck in a dialogue held by the PNP with group leaders to ensure orderly and safe mass actions.

Barias said the rallyists have agreed to occupy only one lane of Commonwealth avenue so as not to obstruct traffic.

He said schools surrounding the Batasan Complex will have no classes.

He said the Commission on Human Rights has reminded the more than 6,000 policemen who will give security on Monday to respect the rights of the protesters.