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Weekly TV program, tabloid eyed for Duterte admin's communication strategy


Incoming Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) chief Martin Andanar on Monday said among the changes that will be coming in the government’s media operations will include a weekly TV program and a tabloid.

Andanar disclosed this in a joint press conference with outgoing Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., who had briefed him about the operations of the PCOO and its attached agencies earlier in the day.

Andanar said he will implement a “National Communications Strategy” that he had already presented to Duterte.

“We also want to build the online presence. We would like to build platforms. We are planning to print our own weekly tabloid. And, of course, it is not all cast in stone. Maraming pagbabago pa as we, the team, do our jobs,” he said.

“The vision of that (tabloid) is essentially to tell the people what are the available services of the government. And also to print the achievements or the policies that the people need to know,” he added.

Duterte’s PCOO chief further said he is planning to air “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,” a local show aired in Davao, nationwide.

“It's essentially a program that talks to the masa and addresses problems of the masa. It's as transparent as you can get... I would propose to bring that here in Manila and make it a national program,” Andanar said.

Unlike Coloma, Andanar said the scope of his job is only to manage the state media “and to maintain good media relationship” with members of the press.

Coloma, as Communications Secretary, speaks for President Benigno Aquino III, along with Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte.

Duterte’s lawyer, Salvador Panelo, has earlier been designated to be the President-elect’s spokesperson.

Meanwhile, Andanar said he has yet to speak to Duterte’s close aide, Bong Go, about the President-elect’s boycott on the media.

“I have yet to meet Secretary Bong Go. When I go to Davao tomorrow, we will discuss his plans,” he said.

Go, who has been appointed special assistant to the President with supervision over the Presidential Management Staff, earlier told reporters that Duterte will stop holding press conferences to steer himself off controversies.

Duterte drew flak over his remark that slain journalists are often engaged in corrupt activities, and for wolf-whistling GMA News reporter Mariz Umali in one of his media briefings.

In his last conference, Duterte dared members of the media, mostly Manila-based reporters, to stop covering his activities. —KBK, GMA News

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