MANILA – The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) celebrated 82 years of service on Monday (14 Oct 2024), reaffirming its dedication to providing the public with accurate and relevant information.

“Our commitment remains steadfast: to provide accurate, timely, and relevant information that empowers the Filipino citizen,” the PCO stated in a social media post.

“Together, let’s foster an informed community that stands against disinformation and strives for a brighter future for the Filipino people!” it added.

The PCO is responsible for disseminating government messages to the public and overseeing state-owned media entities to ensure effective communication of official messages.

Additionally, it handles the accreditation and authentication of reporters covering presidential activities, as well as foreign media correspondents, to strengthen relations and assist private media entities.

The agency has previously operated under the names Office of the Press Secretary and Presidential Communications Operations Office.

elami/mnm

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cesar Chavez on Friday (Sept. 20, 2024) expressed his gratitude to House members for their swift approval of the agency’s proposed budget for 2025.

“The fact that our budget breezed through the plenary without a single question or opposition motivates us to deliver on the commitments we have made,” Chavez said in a statement.

“We appreciate the House’s full support for our new programs, which are centered on the truthful and timely communication of government services and initiatives to the public, as well as addressing issues that concern them,” he added.

Chavez vowed to ensure that “every peso is spent efficiently, by plans and programs, and in full compliance with the law.”

The House of Representatives approved the P2.281-billion proposed budget for PCO for 2025.

The PCO serves as the government’s primary communications arm and the main source of the Administration’s messages.

ia/mnm

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA – Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cesar Chavez aims to regularize contractual employees by 2025.

Chavez stated that the PCO has already submitted its reorganization plan and proposed a new organizational structure to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), which is currently under review.

“The PCO submitted our proposed new structure to the DBM in May 2024. According to the DBM, it is now under review. Once approved, we expect a reduction in the number of COS (Contract of Service) positions by the end of 2024, to have no more COS positions by 2025,” Chavez said during a budget hearing at the House of Representatives.

“There are a total of 217 COS personnel, and we aim to regularize them through the ongoing reorganization process.”

Chavez also emphasized that the hiring process to fill vacant positions will strictly adhere to the rules and regulations set by the Civil Service Commission.

“The hiring process will, of course, follow the existing rules and regulations set by the Civil Service Commission,” he added.

ia/mnm

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cesar Chavez confirmed on Monday (Sept. 9, 2024) that Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco will be dismissed.

Chavez said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has approved Tansingco’s dismissal.

He deferred further explanation to the Department of Justice (DOJ) but noted that the decision is “related to the departure of Alice Guo.”

“This is also part of the President’s commitment—heads will roll because of that issue,” Chavez added.

Earlier, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that Marcos agreed to relieve Tansingco of his duties.

“Papalitan siya, papalitan siya. If I were him, I’d just resign. He should resign,” Remulla stated.

ia/mnm

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — In a proactive move against the spread of disinformation and misinformation, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has forged partnerships with social media companies.

Emerald Ridao, PCO Undersecretary for Digital Media Services (DMS), emphasized the government’s commitment to digital defense in tackling the proliferation of fake news.

“We are initiating our digital defense strategy today because it’s evident that misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting government programs and officials are on the rise,” stated Ridao during the UniComm 2024 conference.

“We hope that through collective efforts, we can effectively curb this issue within our digital realm,” she added.

Representatives from META, Google, and TikTok participated in the event, sharing invaluable insights and expertise on combatting misinformation and disinformation.

Furthermore, the conference highlighted the tangible challenges faced by government agencies, such as account hacking and the dissemination of false information.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Following Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares’ claim that the Bagong Pilipinas campaign kick-off rally at the Luneta on Sunday (January 28) is just a guise to push for Charter change (Cha-Cha), Presidential Communications Office (PCO) officials on Saturday strongly denied the allegation.

Colmenares has lambasted the event, saying it’s “a waste of public funds.”

“Definitely not. This is an activity by the Executive Department for the covenant of Bagong Pilipinas. This is the Executive Department’s way of showing its commitment that it will do its job… There are no other reasons,” PCO Undersecretary Gerard Baria maintained at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

He pointed out that the Bagong Pilipinas rally will tackle the PBBM administration’s commitment to improve government services.

“[Charter change] is within the territory of Congress; it is not part of the responsibilities of the Executive. The focus tomorrow will be specifically for Bagong Pilipinas… to communicate the government’s commitments to level up services,” Baria added.

He said Colmenares’ claims are only aimed to “muddle ideas.”

For her part, PCO Director Cris Villonco said that “as part of the event and the one overseeing the event, I can assure that is not the case.“

“We are talking about empowering the Filipino at its very core,” Villonco stressed.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — Presidential Communications Office (PCO) spokesperson Cheloy Garafil clarified that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has not announced January 2 as a special non-working day.

“There is no declaration,” Garafil stated in response to reporters’ inquiries about the matter.

Earlier, Marcos declared December 26, the day after Christmas, as a nationwide special non-working day. This move aimed to provide families with more time to spend together during the holiday season.

The Marcos administration implemented Proclamation No. 90, emphasizing holiday economics, with the goal of “ushering in long weekends to offer Filipinos a much-needed opportunity for travel, while simultaneously supporting the government’s efforts to boost tourism revenues.”

(IAmigo/MNM)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) clarified on Thursday (21 Dec 2023) that the reported declaration of a special half-working day on December 22 is not true, fake news at its best.

“The Presidential Communications Office explains that the circulating ‘Proclamation No. 427,’ declaring a special (half-working) day on the 22nd of December 2023, Friday, is certainly untrue,” the PCO said in a post on social media.

The said document is fake and has no official government verification, it added.

The PCO also reminds the public to rely only on official government sources for accurate information.

“The public is reminded to be discerning and refer only to the official sources of the government for accurate information.”

(IAmigo/MNM)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Saturday (09 Dec 2023) that the mandatory isolation of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. due to COVID-19 is scheduled to conclude on Sunday. This follows a positive test for the virus a few days ago.

According to the PCO, Marcos is on the path to recovery, having been free from cough, nasal congestion, and fever for the past 24 hours.

The statement highlighted that all other medical findings were unremarkable, leading to the final diagnosis of “COVID-19, Recovered.”

Medical professionals closely monitored the President throughout the entire home isolation period.

In light of his recovery, Marcos’ doctor has recommended that he continue wearing a face mask for the next 10 days during public engagements as a precaution.

(ai/mnm)