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PCOO Opens Direct Communication Link between Malacañang and the People
Presidential Communications Operations Office headed by Secretary Martin Andanar is promoting grassroots communication that includes opening direct communication link between Malacañang and the people.
Andanar met with information officers and representatives from regional line agencies, local government units and private companies as well as the Cordillera Regional Development Council members and local chief executives in the Cordillera last August 12 to promote the Provincial Communication Officers (PCO) Network whose goal is to open lines of communication to and from Malacanang.
Andanar said the PCOO is aggressively improving its messaging apparatus through its attached agencies such as the Philippine Information Agency , Philippine News Agency, People’s Television network, Radyo Pilipinas, and other platforms on social media, but it is equally important to strengthen ground communication through the PCO network.
Andanar stressed on the importance of face to face communication, and that public information officers or communicators at the provincial and municipal levels play important role as they are the best and proper channels to communicate issues in the local areas.
PCOO is very active in communicating online, on – air and TV (broadcast) and print but there is still a need to strengthen “on the ground” or “face to face” communication in bringing the programs and messages of the President in the barangays which is your ‘strength as public information officers’, Andanar said.
The PCONetwork will link directly the information officers to Malacanang. They will have access to first – hand information from the Palace such as executive orders, newly enacted laws and pronouncements which they disseminate to the grassroots level. They will also be listening to the voice of the people in the community which they can bring up to Malacanang, he added.
With PCOO as the government communicator that aims to bring about enlightened and empowered citizenry and with help of the PCO Network, Andanar pointed out that together it is easier to douse fake or false news and at the same time it is easier to bring government programs and services down to the communities especially during time of calamities.
PCOO staff initially got the contact details of the participants in the info officers meeting to be included in the PCO mailing list and facebook chat group.
Andanar was joined by PCOO Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag during his official visit here. (PIA CAR)