| Presidential Communications Group | |
|---|---|
| Agency overview | |
| Headquarters | 3rd Floor, New Executive Building, Malacañang Palace, Manila |
| Annual budget | P846.0 million (2007)[1] |
| Agency executives | Edwin Lacierda[2], Presidential Spokesman Abigail L. Valte, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Ricky Carandang[3], Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Manuel Quezon III[4], Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Undersecretary Sonny Coloma[5], Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary George Syliangco[6], Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary |
| Website | |
| www.pcoo.gov.ph www.pcdspo.gov.ph |
|
The Presidential Communications Group or simply the Communications Group, is a collective name for the newly formed offices within the Office of the President of the Philippines referring to the following positions and offices: the Presidential Spokesman, the Presidential Communications Operations Office, formerly the Office of the Press Secretary, and the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office. The Communications Group is primarily responsible for planning, programming, and coordinating the activities that will most effectively collect information about what is happening in the Executive branch of the government and getting that information to the media. In addition, the Group's greater role is to help Filipinos understand government policies and programs as well as shore up support for such.
Contents |
The Presidential Spokesman speaks in behalf of the President on matters of public interest, among other things. Considering the restricted level of access that media has to the Chief Executive, the Spokesman is expected to be the primary source of presidential directives in the absence of the President of the Philippines.
The Presidential Spokesman is not subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments for he does not have any specific item or plantilla in government.[7]
The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) is in charge of disseminating the government’s message to private media entities. It also exercises supervision and control over state-owned media entities to ensure the proper and effective dissemination of the official messages in accordance with the Communications Plan. It is also responsible for the accreditation and authentication of the credentials of foreign media correspondents, in line with his primary task to cultivate relations and provide the necessary assistance to private media entities.[8]
The PCOO is headed by the PCOO Head with Cabinet rank. He is assisted by an Undersecretary for Administration and Finance, an Undersecretary for Operations, a Chief of Staff, an Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, and an Electronic Data Processing Division Chief.[9]
The PCOO is composed of the following units and agencies:
The Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) ensures that all aspects of communications are covered to ensure that the administration’s message has been delivered successfully. This includes market research and polling. It devises the communications strategy to promote the President’s agenda throughout all media and among the many publics with which the administration interacts. This can include, but certainly are not limited to, the State of the Nation address, televised press conferences, statements to the press, and radio addresses. This Office also works closely with cabinet level departments and other executive agencies in order to create a coherent strategy through which the President’s message can be disseminated.[10]
The PCDSPO is headed by the PCDSPO Head, with Cabinet rank. He is supported by a Deputy of Undersecretary rank, a Chief of Staff, an Assistant Secretary for Messaging, and an Electronic Data Processing Division Chief.[11]
The PCDSPO is composed of the following units and agencies:
The Presidential News Desk (PND) functions as the newsroom of Malacañang. As such, it gathers and disseminates information, such as press and photograph releases, and official statements from the Palace, on a daily basis.
The PND operates from Sundays to Saturdays, 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM. It is headed by a chief editor and is composed of a managing editor, deskmen, and reporters. Other units, which support the PND are Electronic Data Processing, the Transcription and Monitoring, and Photographs.
The PND was conceived by Francisco Tatad, who was the Press Secretary to President Ferdinand Marcos. It was called the Central Desk and used to hold office at the Mabini Building. During the administration of President Corazon C. Aquino, Press Secretary Benigno Teodoro relegated the Central Desk, which became the News and Reportorial Section, as a section of the Presidential Press Staff. Under the Ramos administration, Press Secretary Rodolfo Reyes strengthened presidential coverage and set up the PND.
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) was the product of a Executive Order No. 100, which was promulgated on December 24, 1986 that abolished the Marcos-era Office of Media Affairs-National Media Production Center.
The PIA is organized into 11 divisions, 15 regional information offices, 74 provincial information centers, 911 community development information centers (CDIC).
Its subordinate units include the:
The Bureau of Communication Services is the attached agency of the OPS that is tasked to provide materials and services related to various functions of the OPS and its bureaus, such as policy formulation, communication planning, and project development.
It also produces information materials for state events such as the anniversary of the People Power Revolution, Araw ng Kalayaan celebrations, and others. Its current director is Eduardo M. Varona.
Created under Executive Order No. 297 on July 25, 1987 by President Corazon C. Aquino, the Presidential Broadcast Staff - Radio Television Malacañang is tasked to provide the necessary media services (video and audio) to the incumbent President, to document all official engagements and to make available to the public accurate and relevant information on the activities, programs and pronouncements of the national leadership.
The agency is involved in television coverage and documentation, news and public affairs syndication of all the activities of the President, either live or delayed telecast through government or private collaborating networks.
There are three government-run television networks, which are the People's Television Network (PTV-4), the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13) and the Radio Philippines Network (RPN-9) and operates as well the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS) which the government radio network.
IBC-13 and RPN-9 were sequestered by the government after the fall of the Marcos dictatorship. However, plans are being made to privatize IBC-13 and RPN-9 within two years to increase the government coffers. According to the 2009 report of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), IBC-13 is valued at PHP 3.074 billion while RPN-9 is valued at PHP 1.3 billion.[12][13]
The National Printing Office (NPO) was established by Executive Order No. 285 on July 25, 1987. EO 285 abolished the General Services Administration and transferred its functions to other pertinent agencies. Its Government Printing Offices was merged with the printing units of the PIA. The NPO is mandated by EO 285 to print forms, official ballots, public documents, and public information materials.
The News and Information Bureau's main aim is to provide efficient, effective, productive, and economical services relating to the development and formulation of a domestic and foreign information program for the Government in general, and the Presidency in particular, including the development of strategies for the dissemination of information on specific government programs. It is composed of the following divisions:
The OP Web Development Office or commonly referred to as the President's New Media Team is responsible for the establishment and management of the President's Official Website and Official Presence on Social Networking Channels such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. It is also partly responsible for the feedback mechanism of the President wherein it receives the comments, concerns and suggestions through the Contact Us section of the President's website. It is also responsible for the President's Social Media engagement and in maximizing the use of new technologies to further the President's agenda, policies and programs.