Lawmaker asks Coloma why writers in Malacañang couldn’t write ‘great speeches’

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. Photo from congress.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines—Who writes President Benigno Aquino III’s speeches and policy statements?

Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez asked Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma during a budget hearing on the said agency Thursday why writers at Malacañang could not write “great speeches” for Aquino.

Coloma pointed to a speech writing group outside the PCOO, which was assigned to create the President’s speeches.

He said the group operated under the office of Communications Strategy Secretary Ricky Carandang and is supervised by Undersecretary of Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Manuel “Manolo” Quezon III.

Rodriguez said the President’s speeches could be improved to be more effective, relevant and memorable to the people.

“Put in more research to make them more effective,” he urged.

During the hearing, Quirino Representative Dakila Carlo Cua also suggested that the PCOO look into the possibility of printing the Official Gazette as a broadsheet.

This was in reaction to Coloma’s statement that the gazette which publishes Aquino’s speeches as well as government agencies’ news was only available in soft copy because it was “more economical” that way.