Presidential Communications Operation Office (PCOO) Secretary Sonny Coloma welcomes new incoming Press Secretary Martin Andanar as they held a briefing with members of the Malacanang Press Corps at the press briefing room of the New Executive Building in the Malacañang grounds. (Monday June 06). (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(Eagle News) — Officials of the Aquino and incoming Duterte administrations continue to fine-tune the details of the transition to ensure a smooth transfer of mandate at the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said on Monday.
“Patuloy ang aming pakikipag-ugnayan sa isa’t isa upang maibahagi kay incoming secretary Martin Andanar ang mga mahalagang impormasyon tungkol sa trabahong ginagampanan ng Communications Office,” Secretary Coloma told reporters at Malacañang Palace.
Coloma noted that during his first meeting with Andanar, they toured the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), People’s Television, National Printing, and the APO Production Unit at the PIA building in Quezon City
“Kanina ay nakipag-pulong siya sa mga nasa operations natin dito sa PCOO, kina Undersecretary Jan Co Chua, Assistant Secretary Cecille Javillonar at iyong iba pang kagawad ng ating tanggapan dito. Bahagi lang ito ng patuloy na pakikipag-ugnayan namin sa isa’t isa upang tiyakin ang isang seamless transition,” he said.
“Ang palagi kong tinatalakay sa kanya ‘yung kahalagan na bigyan kayo, na mga kagawad ng media, ng napapanahong impormasyon dahil ito ang mahalagang tungkulin na ginagampanan ninyo dito sa Tanggapan ng Pangulo at sa Palasyo ng Malakanyang.”
For his part, Andanar said that aside from attending meetings, he is also exchanging text messages with Secretary Coloma.
“Of course, kailangan po nating malaman kung ano ang mga dapat gawin, kung anong mga ahensiya ang dapat tutukan nang husto at kung ano pa ‘yung mga dapat na pagbabago na dapat gawin para mas lalo maging efficient ang pagpapatakbo ng ating mga ahensiya sa ilalim po ng PCOO,” he said.
He also reiterated that the PCOO will be renamed Presidential Communications Office or PCO.
Asked whether the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) will be dissolved, he said it will become a division under the PCO.
The PCDSPO, tasked to craft presidential speeches, is headed by Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III.
Andanar said they want to streamline the PCO.
“Ang kagandahan po nito ay hindi na po magiging medyo magulo iyong ating set up. Isa na lang ang magre-report sa Presidente, iyong Secretary na lang ng PCO at pati po ‘yung spokesperson, pagdating sa kanyang mga administrative work ay ako na po ang magre-report sa Gabinete para isa lang po ang panggagalingan ng report, administratively,” he said.
