MANILA, Philippines -- A senator on Thursday questioned the government's seeming priority on ?messaging? over governance with the creation of the new Communication Group.
?Super communications group? Bakit? (Why?) Is this governance or messaging?? broadcast journalist-turned-Senator Loren Legarda told reporters.
?I mean governance is really feeding our people. I am a communicator, it's important to have the right message but we should go beyond creating the right message and really make sure that the hungry people are fed,? she said.
The communications group will be headed by former Presidential Management Staff chief Sonny Coloma and former ABS-CBN news anchor Ricky Carandang, both are holding a Cabinet rank.
Legarda also hit the Palace's directive for each department of government to appoint a spokesman who will work with the communications group.
?Let?s see how it works -- if they sing in unison,? she said.
?Too many cooks are always a disadvantage. It spoils the broth. But let's see if they will limit themselves to their respective departments. My question is will they cull these spokesmen from existing plantilla positions or create new ones?? the senator asked.
Legarda said she could not understand why there should be people for messaging and different people to face and deliver the message.
?You mean every step of the way ibang trabaho yun (it?s a different job)?? she further asked.
As a public servant, officials of government were expected to face and answer every question that the people would ask from them. ?It's not on the job training,? Legarda said.
Instead of messaging, the government should prioritize on food and water security, which the senator said were all part the national security.
?Our priority is disaster preparedness, not communications. It's a priority because we have to communicate the message to the people but what message will you communicate if people are hungry?? she pointed out.
?But then again, we will give them the benefit of the doubt, we just don?t want that the priority is all messaging when people are hungry,? Legarda added.
