MANILA — The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) is taking proactive steps in empowering Filipinos by enhancing the government’s communications platforms for more efficient delivery of the right information.
“The PCOO, its attached agencies, its various communication platforms, and its more than a thousand public information officers around the country are working very hard to communicate and promote the government’s programs and policies to both Filipinos and people around the world,” PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said during the second Senate hearing on fake news on January 30, 2018.
Citing some improvements that the PCOO and its attached agencies have made under President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration, Andanar said the government’s flagship television station, People’s Television (PTV) Network, has increased its transmission from 25,000 to 55,000 watts and has plans on increasing it to 120,000 watts this year to reach more people and provide better viewing experience.
“PTV got a good ranking among local TV stations in the Kantar Media 3rd Quarter 2017 Report. Its facilities, programs and shows were boosted in order to raise awareness on the government’s efforts to improve the lives of Filipinos through television broadcasting.,” he said.
He added that the Philippine Broadcasting Service, which operates the government’s official radio stations, is now improved with better facilities and up-to-date equipment in order to reach more people through the airwaves.
“The government’s flagship radio station, Radyo Pilipinas, holds the #7 spot in rankings as of 3rd quarter 2017. FM2, another station of PBS, soared through the charts, particularly in the ABC market by affinity, starting from 116 in 3rd quarter 2016 all the way to number 1 in 3rd quarter 2017,” he said.
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the government’s development communication arm, continues to empower the grassroots through daily generation and dissemination of timely, accurate and relevant news by its 16 regional and 72 provincial offices nationwide, using multimedia platforms, including social media.
The PIA, he said, also plans to put up Government Information Centers (GICs) across all the provinces in the country to amplify the government’s efforts in providing a comfortable life for all Filipinos.
“GICs will serve as public information hubs where every citizen can access information on social services, policies, government programs, and employment or business opportunities that could help them realize their potential or assist them in a time of need,” he said adding PIA believes that this platform will empower the public, especially those who are not adept with digital technologies and modern day communication gadgets.
He added that PIA is also actively promoting responsible sharing of information as one of its flagship advocacies.
The Philippine News Agency, he said, aside from producing over a hundred articles per day from Metro Manila and 20 other provincial bureaus nationwide, has launched the “PNA Newsroom”—a 5-day English news program that provides a daily dose of relevant news across the country.
Andanar said PCOO has also strengthened its multimedia production team to help various agencies of the Executive Branch in terms of promoting their campaigns and accomplishments.
The department, he said, has also established the Provincial Communication Officers Network or PCONet in order to engage both public and private communicators as multipliers of development communication.
Andanar underscored that all of these efforts are anchored on the goal of reaching every Filipino and empowering them with the right information.
“PCOO believes that by effectively informing the citizens of the government’s efforts to promote a comfortable life for all, the quality of public discourse on all matters of governance and nation-building will also be enriched,” Andanar added. (PCOO)
