Duterte’s gold standard sets bar

With the budget to be given to the PCOO, we expect that all agencies of the PCOO will again level up

The “gold standard” of governance will be showcased as part of the Duterte legacy through the programs of the Presidential Operations Office this year, PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said.

PCOO’s P1.698 billion budget for 2020 won approval from the House of Representatives after it terminated plenary debates on the budget bill last Wednesday.

“With the budget to be given to the PCOO, we expect that all agencies of the PCOO will again level up. We will improve the quality of our reporting in PTV, also in Radyo Pilipinas, as well as in the Philippine News Agency — including the News and Information Bureau, Bureau of Communications Services, and other branches of the PCOO,” Andanar said in a statement yesterday.

He indicated government media will not only widen its audience reach but will also strengthen information campaigns to show the “gold standard” of governance under the Duterte administration.

“We hope to deliver the Duterte Legacy. This is the President’s endowment to the country that will be delivered in the next three years. This will also be the basis of governance for our next presidents. We have a gold standard, we have the barometer to follow,” he explained.

The PCOO chief also thanked Buhay partylist Rep. Lito Atienza for supporting the PCOO in pushing for a higher budget.

While the 2020 budget may be significantly smaller compared to the funding of the country’s top local networks, he said the government network is committed to continue the improvement of public media services.

“P1.6 billion is certainly not enough, but we know that we also depend on what we are given. We would live, we would operate within our means. We do not go beyond our means and if we are given more budget, it will be better so we can accelerate the reform of our government media,” Andanar said.

The budget would help PCOO facilitate the communications strategies of other national government agencies, according to the PCOO chief.

“The budget is spread across all agencies. It really helps because we have a Comprehensive Communications Committee, which includes all government media agencies,” Andanar said.

“So, with more budget, that means we can program these funds to effective tactics and strategies to really reach the masses and reach the international community without fake news, without disinformation,” he added.

The PCOO serves as the premier arm of the Executive branch in engaging and involving the citizenry and the mass media to enrich the quality of public discourse on all matters of governance and build a national consensus.

Andanar explained the PCOO’s mission is to serve as the primary vehicle for consciousness-raising, constituency building, and social mobilization; to support the policies, programs, and projects of the presidency; and to serve as a tool to inform, educate and enlighten the citizenry on matters of national importance to deepen their civic engagement.