Overview:
President Whipps has confirmed July 22 as the date for this year’s State of the Republic Address — after months of postponements. The address will tackle major bills on pensions, aviation, and the national budget, and will coincide with the Belau Games closing ceremony.
By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
NGERULMUD, Palau (July 8, 2026) — President Surangel Whipps Jr. will deliver the State of the Republic Address (SORA) on July 22, ending months of scheduling changes, he announced at a press conference Wednesday.
“We are looking forward to delivering the SORA on July 22, for there are many important bills that we are addressing this year that need to be taken care of,” Whipps said.
The president said reforms to the Social Security and Civil Service Pension Plan, the aircraft registry, and the national budget — which his office plans to submit next week — will be among the top items on his agenda.
Schedule history
The address was originally scheduled for April 23 but was postponed after the death of Whipps’ father.
Since then, the date has shifted multiple times. Senate President Hokkons Baules said in a phone interview that the Office of the President had proposed several dates, including July 14 and July 17, along with other later options, but each was scrapped due to conflicts with the president’s off-island travel schedule.
Baules said the Senate will hold a session next week to pass a resolution formally inviting the president to address Congress on July 22.
The confirmed July 22 date places the SORA on the same day as the closing ceremony of the Belau Games, which is scheduled for later that afternoon.
