Gatchalian on PCOO blunder: Accuracy is important in gov’t communications

Updated (4:20 p.m.)

Following the recent blunder of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Senator Sherwin Gatchalian stressed the importance of accuracy in government communications.

Gatchalian, who was identified as “Winston Gatchalian” by the PCOO in a news release, said the credibility of the communications office is an issue.

“Accuracy is a very important factor for this Presidential Communications Office because it carries the mandate of its primary principal which is the President,” Gatchalian said in a news forum.

“Napakahalaga po ng accuracy na lumalabas po diyan because kung hindi po accurate yung information, yung mga detalye na lumalabas diyan, then the credibility becomes an issue (Accuracy is very important in the work of the PCOO because the credibility of the agency is at stake),” the senator added.

Gatchalian spotted the blunder himself. He posted it on his Twitter account with the caption: “May pagasa pa ba ang PCOO??? (Is there still hope for the PCOO???)”

READ: PCOO calls Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as ‘Winston’

Gatchalian said that since the PCOO is no ordinary communications office, every communication material should undergo intensive review before public release.

“This is not an ordinary communications office. It is the communications office of the president, no less than the highest leader of our land, so it is very important that their work is good,” Gatchalian said in Filipino, adding that the documents should be reviewed and proofread.

Prior to the error on Gatchalian’s name, the PCOO also identified former Congressman and National Security Adviser Jose Roilo Golez as “Rogelio” Golez and referred to Norwegian Ambassador Erik Forner as the representative of “Norwegia”.

The senator said the Senate had not been remiss in the allocation of funds for the operation of PCOO. “They should do better from now on,” he said.

The PCOO received a budget of P1.38 billion this year.

In the erratum, PCOO said: “It is our duty to disseminate accurate information and this error is not in accordance with the standards of the President’s communications team.”

“We take these matters seriously, and rest assured, we have applied stricter measures to avoid oversight,” it added. – With  DJ Yap  /ee