MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on federalism is a needed “boost” to reinforce the ongoing information drive on the proposed new system of government, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said on Wednesday.
Andanar made this remark in response to Duterte’s Memorandum Circular No. 52 which creates the IATF, which is responsible for “integrating, harmonizing, and coordinating ongoing efforts towards federalism and constitutional reform.”
“I’m very excited because I’m part of the inter-agency (task force) even before Malacañang released this memorandum,” Andanar told reporters in an interview at the National Printing Office (NPO) in Quezon City.
“It only gives us a boost to continue our communications work for federalism. We are all prepared. As a matter of fact, we have a plan already,” he added.
The IATF is tasked to develop strategies and implement such activities necessary and proper to raise public awareness on federalism and constitutional reform and prepare an information dissemination and public communication plan to ensure an effective, efficient, and uniform undertaking of advocacy activities.
Members of the IATF are Secretary Eduardo Año of the Department of the Interior and Local Government or his equivalent as chairperson; Secretary Menardo Guevarra of the Department of Justice, as vice-chairperson; and the heads of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary; Presidential Management Staff; Presidential Communications Operations Office; Office of the Presidential Spokesperson; Presidential Legislative Liaison Office; Office of the Political Adviser; Commission on Higher Education; Development Academy of the Philippines; and University of the Philippines Law Center.
Earlier, Andanar said at least PHP10 million out of the total budget of PHP90 million has been allocated to PCOO for the information dissemination materials on federalism.
Of this amount, PHP50 million will come from the savings of the now defunct Consultative Committee which came up with the draft charter and an additional PHP30 million will also be set aside for the expert panel.
He said his agency will be launching a new jingle which will be sung by a “venerable singer” within the month. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
