'Events organizer na kayo?': Pimentel questions PCO’s P7M budget for Konsyerto sa Palasyo in 2024

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Monday questioned the allocation of P7 million for the Presidential Communications Office’s (PCO) “Konsyerto sa Palasyo” in 2024, saying this is not part of the agency’s mandate.

“In the increase that our committee granted, we appropriated P7M million for a concert. Tama po ba ‘yung narinig namin? And then the budget is given to PCO? Is that connected with your mandate?” Pimentel asked during the Senate plenary deliberations on PCO’s P2.47 billion proposed budget for 2024.

While he doesn’t object to the administration's “Konsyerto sa Palasyo,” Pimentel said he can’t see any justification to the plan for PCO to organize an event.

“The PCO proper is the primary arm of the government for mass media or public disclosure of government pronouncements. Ako, parang di ko ma-justify na kayo ang mag-oorganize ng konsyerto. Okay lang sakin, pero give it to the proper government agency sana,” Pimentel said.

Senator JV Ejrercito, who defended the budget of the PCO, explained that organizing live productions for broadcast is part of the agency’s mandate under Section 6 of  Executive Order (EO) No. 16.

In February 2023, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed EO No. 16 that orders the reorganization of the PCO.

“The new mandate of PCO includes live productions for broadcast. It’s something new…Section 6 of EO 16  [states] that one of the mandates of the PCO is to manage and organize live production for broadcast,” Ejercito said

He also explained that the concert that will be held in Malacañang Palace aims “to show the administration’s support not only for culture and arts, [but] also to serve as a way to subtly convey the message of different issues and accomplishments of the administration.”

“I think, that is one of the tasks of the PCO, is really to amplify and inform everyone of the accomplishments of the administration,” Ejercito said.

After hearing the explanation, Pimentel suggested a review of EO 16.

“So parang naging events’ organizer po kayo. So, the basis is an EO. So we would just have to review that EO. Kasi baka ang sasabihin busy na kayo sa main task niyo to be the primary arm for mass media and public disclosure tapos naging organizer kayo ng events,” the minority leader said.

The PCO’s proposed budget for 2024 is deemed submitted for the Senate plenary’s approval. — RF, GMA Integrated News