President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed newly appointed Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz to prioritize making government programs and services accessible to the public.

Ruiz, a former broadcast journalist with ABS-CBN for two decades, expressed gratitude for the appointment.

"It’s a great honor to serve the president and the nation with this given responsibility," Ruiz said. "My priority, as instructed by our president, is to let the ordinary people know all government programs that help the people."  

Ruiz, a former researcher, writer, and field reporter for ABS-CBN's TV Patrol, pledged to combat disinformation and fake news.

"We really need to be true at all times. We will not tolerate such lies. We need to fight fake news all the time," said Ruiz, adding the PCO will enhance its role in providing "clear, precise, informative and educational information for the public."  

"I’m encouraging everyone to be on the side of truth," he added.

Ruiz's appointment signals a shift toward a more media-savvy communication approach, stressing clear, transparent, factual, and impactful messaging, according to a statement from the PCO.

A graduate of the University of the Philippines with a bachelor's degree in speech communications, Ruiz has experience in political and business communications, including managing public relations strategies for political figures and organizations.  

"We, at the PCO, will bridge the gap between the administration and the Filipino public to ensure transparent, credible, and effective government communication with my vast knowledge and experience in the media, public relations, and governance," Ruiz said.  

He also thanked former PCO Secretary Cesar Chavez for assisting with the job transition last week.