DAVAO CITY — A television news anchor, who is set to be the next Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) head, will be crafting a national communications strategy for the incoming administration of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte.
Martin Andanar, a radio and television anchor for TV5, said he wants to study the functions of the office to create an overall strategy for the communications group.
“We will propose a national communications strategy especially for the government stations,” he told reporters at Royal Mandaya Hotel in this city.
“Sinabi ko naman kay (incoming Presidential Management Staff) Secretary Bong Go and I already confided also with (Cabinet) Secretary Jun Evasco but I have yet to talk with the Executive Secretary,” he said.
Andanar, who bagged the job the same day he visited Duterte to offer his services, said that his role will involve managing the government’s different media platforms, from television and radio to the printing office.
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Asked if Duterte will retain the three offices under the presidential communications group — Office of the Presidential Spokesman, the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO), and the PCOO — Andanar said he was tasked by Duterte to study the current set-up and to complete the team.
He said they already have a proposal on who to head the PCDSPO, which is tasked to ensure that the government’s message is successfully delivered and the the president’s agenda is promoted.
“I cannot give you the name now. Because I do not want to preempt the president,” he said.
Andanar said his proposed communication plan should also be approved and improved by incoming presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo and the PCDSPO head.
“After that we will have to show it to the executive secretary and the president,” he said.
Andanar said he also plans to call incumbent PCOO Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., who he said is his neighbot.
“I think Sec. Coloma has done a master stroke in creating the PCOO. I think the PCOO is such a great division inside the presidential media group,” he said, explaining that each of the three groups have their own objectives.
He said it should be clear who will craft the message, who will speak in behalf of the president and who will distribute government plans to the media.
Andanar said among the current programs that he wants to continue is the Official Gazette, which is now available online.
“Kung ano namang nagawa ng current administration sa communication group na maganda ay ipapatuloy natin,” he said.
(Any effective program of the current communication group will be continued.)
He said access to information will also be better since Duterte promised that he will issue an executive order implementing freedom of information.
“We will be even more transparent,” he said.
Andanar also revealed that he has yet to resign from TV5. He said he will resign on Monday and will talk to his superiors.
“I did not expect it. It’s an honor to serve the president. I cannot say no to the president. I cannot say no to serving our country. And as a media guy, as a man who has been in broadcast in the last 22 years I am happy to serve the country,” he said.
“I am just more than happy to be here to build a good relationship between the communications group and all of you here,” he said. CDG