By Jose Oscar Magpusao
PHOTO CREDITS: PCOO
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar presented details regarding the proposed ₱1.91-billion budget of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) before the House Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday.
The agency's ₱1.91-billion proposed budget for 2022 is approximately 18% higher than the appropriated ₱1.62-billion for 2021.
“Sticking true to our mandate, we will continue to highlight the legacy of real change that this administration brought to the Filipino people as we inch closer to the end of the Duterte administration’s term,” Secretary Andanar said in a press release.
“As we recover as a nation, the amount will be used to communicate to the people how the Duterte administration is laying out the path for resilience and sustainability. At the same time, we will build on the gains of this government for the past five years to amplify the Pamana ng Pagbabago,” he added.
The breakdown of the proposed budget are as follows:
₱740.62 million allotted to the PCOO Proper, comprising 38.8% of the proposed budget;
₱456.03 million allotted to the Philippine Broadcasting Service - Bureau of Broadcast Services (PBS-BBS), comprising 23.9% of the proposed budget;
₱333.54 million allotted to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), comprising 17.5% of the proposed budget;
₱171.86 million allotted to the Presidential Broadcast Staff - Radio Television Malacañang, comprising 9% of the proposed budget;
₱129.20 million allotted to the News and Information Bureau, comprising 6.8% of the proposed budget;
₱70.59 million allotted to the Bureau of Communications Services (BCS), comprising 3.7% of the proposed budget; and
₱9.13 million allotted to the National Printing Office (NPO), comprising 0.5% of the proposed budget.
“It is our job to deliver accurate and valuable information with excellence, responsibility and integrity to the Filipino people so that they may be transformed into informed citizens and thought leaders who will partner with us in achieving President Duterte’s legacy of providing a secure, comfortable and strongly-rooted life for all Filipinos that cascades to future generations,” Secretary Andanar said in a press release.
“Until then, our primary objective remains: bring hope to our people that better days are coming for the Philippines,” he added.
