(Photo from Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles' official Facebook page)
MANILA – Former communications official Jusan Vincent “JV” Arcena has rejoined the government after being tapped as assistant secretary under a sub-office of the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS).
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles on Friday administered the oath of office to Arcena, who has been designated as assistant secretary for the Office of Press Undersecretary for Special Concerns Marlon Purificacion.
“Pinangunahan natin ngayong araw sa ating opisina ang panunumpa ng bagong nating kasama sa Team OPS na si ASec. JV Arcena na nakatalaga sa Office of the Undersecretary for Special Concerns (We led the oath-taking of the new member of Team OPS, Asec. JV Arcena who has been assigned to the Office of Undersecretary for Special Concerns),” Cruz-Angeles said in a Facebook post.
Arcena, in his official Facebook account, thanked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) for giving him the opportunity to join the current administration.
“Thank you, PBBM, for the trust and confidence. Rest assured, I will continue to work hard serving the Filipino people,” he said.
Before his new stint, Arcena served former president Rodrigo Duterte's administration as Assistant Secretary for the Office of Global Media and Public Affairs (OGMPA) under the now-defunct Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
The PCOO-OGMPA, under the leadership of Arcena, bagged numerous awards for its initiatives to deliver vital information on the government’s policies, programs, and activities.
It was also Arcena who pioneered the first virtual presser in 2018 to bridge the gap between the Philippine government and foreign media, as well as to ensure the immediate response to queries on issues confronting the country.
When the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) hit the country in 2020, the PCOO-OGMPA was also among those in charge of supervising the "Laging Handa" program, which serves as the government’s platform to keep the public updated on the country's fight against the pandemic.
Arcena also produced PCOO’s “VAXplainer” series to help the public understand the importance of Covid-19 vaccines.
He likewise released the "Laging Handa" Documentary, a series of experiential and informational short documentaries highlighting the lives of front-liners and those affected by the Covid-19 crisis.
Before joining the government, Arcena worked as a media strategist at the US Department of State and a TV5 reporter. (PNA)
