MANILA – Lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Tuesday sought for more funding for the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) for the effective dissemination of information to the public about the Duterte government’s programs.
During the House appropriations committee's hearing on the PCOO's budget for 2022, Negros Occidental Rep. Ma. Lourdes Arroyo said the PCOO should be granted additional funding to support the modernization of its equipment, particularly for its radio stations under the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS).
Arroyo particularly noted that the budget proposal of PHP77.8 million for new transmitters should be granted, stressing the importance of communications in any administration.
"My recommendation is to give it to them because I believe that my president should always have the best of everything," Arroyo said.
PBS Director General Rizal Giovanni “Bong” Aportadera said out of its 27 radio stations nationwide, 12 of these need their transmitters to be replaced due to some parts getting old and signal reach issues.
"We are hoping that we could have brand new transmitters in 12 stations across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao," Aportadera said.
Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo also pushed for more funding for the PCOO to support its efforts about informing the people on what the government is doing for them.
"Secretary [Martin] Andanar is a very competent person. He has done very well for his department. He has been going around our country to know the situation," Dimaporo said. "I, therefore, agree with Cong. Arroyo that we should be supporting them."
Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Ferdinand Gaite, meanwhile, called for an increased budget for the National Printing Office (NPO) for the upcoming 2022 elections.
NPO is responsible for the printing of election paraphernalia, including ballots.
"Totoong malaking bahagi ng (It’s true that big part of) expenditures for the 2022 elections will be borne out by the Comelec. But, nevertheless, the NPO will definitely share a portion of the burden... Baka magkaroon tayo ng kakulangan ng resources para maisulong ng matagumpay yung elections sa 2022 (There might be shortage of resources for successful 2022 elections)," Gaite said.
The proposed budget for the PCOO next year amounts to PHP1.91 billion, which is 18 percent higher compared to the PHP1.62-billion budget this year.
In the proposed budget, the PCOO proper has the largest share amounting to PHP740.2 million, followed by the Bureau of Broadcast Services (BBS) at PHP456.03 million, and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) at PHP333.54 million.
The Presidential Broadcast Staff Radio-TV Malacañang (PBS-RTVM) gets the fourth largest share at PHP171.86 million, followed by the News and Information Bureau (NIB) at PHP129.20 million, and the Bureau of Communications Services (BCS) at PHP70.59 million. Meanwhile, the National Printing Office (NPO) will get PHP9.13 million.
The agency also allocated subsidies to its government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) amounting to almost PHP178.63 million. Of this amount, PHP104.94 million go to the People’s Television Network (PTV-4) to support its operations in offering better quality of programs; while PHP73.69 million will go to the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13) to support its maintenance and other operating expenses.
This brings the total agency budget and GOCC subsidy to PHP2.09 billion. (PNA)
