Palace reorganizes media office: From 7 usecs to 5; 8 asecs to 14
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reorganized the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), trimming down the number of undersecretaries from seven to five but increasing the number of assistant secretaries from eight to 14.
In Executive Order (EO) No. 16 signed on Feb. 13, the president said “there is a need to reorganize the PCO to ensure rationalization of its organizational structure, functions, and staffing pattern” for efficient and effective delivery of services.
Under the new structure, five undersecretaries will lead the five functional areas — traditional media and external affairs, digital media services, content production, broadcast production and operations, administration, and finance.
The previous structure had seven undersecretaries with the following areas of concern:
- digital media services
- media accreditation and relations
- administration
- finance and procurement
- print media services and related GOCCs (government-owned and -controlled corporations) and attached agencies
- special concerns
- broadcast media services and related GOCCs and attached agencies
- operations, plans, and policies
Malacañang has yet to release the names of the new undersecretaries and assistant secretaries.
Article continues after this advertisementThe EO also said there would now be 14 assistant secretaries, one of them “directly reporting” to PCO Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil. The undersecretary for traditional media and external affairs will be assisted by five assistant secretaries who would be in charge of print, radio, television, external affairs, and media accreditation and relations.
Article continues after this advertisementThe undersecretary for digital media services will be assisted by an assistant secretary for digital media and communications and another assistant secretary for assets management.
The undersecretaries for content production and for broadcast production will each be assisted by an assistant secretary.
The one for operations, administration, and finance will be assisted by four assistant secretaries who will be in charge of GOCCs, finance, administration, and operations.
In a statement, Garafil said: “The restructured PCO will now be tasked to coordinate closely with the Presidential Adviser for Creative Communications on matters relating to communications and information dissemination.”
She was referring to presidential adviser Paul Soriano, a film director who helped in the Marcos campaign for the May elections and was given the Palace position in October 2022.
The GOCCs covered by the EO include the People’s Television Network Inc., APO Production Unit, Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp., and the National Printing Office.
