Palace ‘treasure’ ‘Ante Kler’ stays

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Lino Cayetano confirmed that PCO officials, including Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, have already submitted courtesy resignations after he took office as the sixth PCO secretary.

“Usec. Claire is a treasure in this government. I haven’t seen someone who can articulate so well what this government is doing. And I need Usec. Claire to translate these projects to our kababayans. I am excited to continue working with her,” he added.

In a meeting with members of the Malacañang Press Corps on Friday, Secretary Cayetano also said Castro will stay as Palace spokesperson, as he admires her work, treating Castro as the Marcos administration’s “gem.”

“Everyone submitted, and it’s a courtesy for us to assess and evaluate on the simple basis of how we can improve and perform our mandate. The only intention of the President is how the agency can improve its services,” Cayetano said.

He said he admires Castro for relaying messages to the Filipino people, even if she faces an apparent backlash right after the Palace briefing, particularly in how she answers media questions.

Further, Cayetano said the President wants the PCO’s new leadership to strengthen public awareness and understanding of government programs, policies, and accomplishments, particularly how these initiatives benefit ordinary Filipinos.

Need for effective communication

He said the President reiterated the agency’s mandate to communicate the administration’s programs and priorities effectively, with particular emphasis on developmental communication.

Cayetano said the PCO would work harder to explain not only the government’s activities and accomplishments but also their significance in improving the lives of Filipinos.

He emphasized that government announcements should go beyond daily news coverage by explaining how policies and reforms translate into concrete public benefits.