Article by:
Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – Press Secretary-designate Trixie Cruz-Angeles on Wednesday said she will gauge the effectiveness of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) policies and programs to determine which could be continued under the next administration.
This, after outgoing Communications Secretary Martin Andanar hoped for the continuity of the PCOO’s existing projects under the leadership of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
During the Laging Handa briefing, Cruz-Angeles admitted that she remains undecided on “which [of the PCOO’s programs] stay and which ones go.”
“In general, we’ll have to make an assessment of all the pending projects, and we’ll decide later on whether to prioritize them or to put them possibly on the backburner,” she said.
She said reviewing the PCOO’s programs is needed before considering the calls to continue the reforms initiated by Andanar.
“We’re just going to look at the effectivity of the platforms that are being used and the messaging. We’re not saying that we’re going to overhaul the entire PCOO or the systems that they have put into place,” she said. “Assessment is going to be a major part of making the decisions on this policy.”
Cruz-Angeles, however, noted that there is a plan to look for funding sources to continue the upgrade of state-run broadcasting stations such as People’s Television Network (PTV-4) and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC 13).
She issued the statement, as she heaped praises on Andanar for stepping up the government’s information and communications drive, especially amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I would like to commend the existing PCOO for great efforts in the information dissemination on the pandemic, as well as other matters,” she said.
She said she and Andanar, along with their respective transition teams, already held a meeting to ensure the smooth transfer of power.
As press secretary, Cruz-Angeles is expected to oversee the PCOO’s operations.
In March, Andanar expressed optimism that his successor would adopt his reform initiatives aimed at improving the government's communication and information services. (PNA)
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