MANILA — Employees of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) will be honored during the department’s eighth anniversary celebration on Oct. 29, 2018, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Sunday.
“Meron tayong konting pasasalamat sa mga magreretiro at ‘yung mga nagsisilbi na rin na napakatagal na sa gobyerno—sa PCOO. At meron din tayong balik-tanaw at report kung ano na ‘yung mga na-achieve ng PCOO sa loob ng dalawang taon at apat na buwan (We have our small token to those retiring and those serving the office for a very long time. We’ll take a look back and report on the achievements of PCOO in the last two years and four months),” he said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer.
Andanar said there was no progress in PCOO's plan to return to the Office of the Press Secretary as the evaluators of the executive order have been working on the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Forum summit and other imperative issues of the country.
He said he would continue working towards PCOO’s development and maintain communications with various media organizations not only in Metro Manila but throughout the country.
“’Yung ating mga press corps, inaalam natin ang mga problema, ‘yung pagbuo ng ating international media group para makapaghanda tayo sa eventuality na maging OPS at magkaroon tayo ng mga press attaché. (With regards to our press corps, we’re looking at issues, the creation of our international media group, so we can be ready for any eventuality in case there’s OPS and we’ll have press attaché), he said.
“Kaya ngayon pa lang ay dapat ginagawa na ‘yung ground work para magkaroon ng magandang transition ‘yung opisina (Right now the ground work should be laid out so we’ll have a smooth transition),” he added.
Andanar also emphasized the importance of assigning a press attaché to every country where we have a partnership.
“Lalung-lalo na in trading. Obviously nariyan ang US, UK. Mahalaga rin na meron sa mga employment centers natin sa Middle East, China, at Japan (Especially in trading. Obviously, there’s US, UK. It’s important that we also have people in our employment centers in the Middle East, China, and Japan),” he added.
Andanar, however, said this would only happen after the approval of the Department of Budget and Management.
He added that the press office at the New Executive Building was included in the 2019 budget allocation to make it easier and more convenient for local and foreign media to cover press briefings in Malacañang. (PR)
