PCOO to launch ‘Virtual Presser’ to engage foreign media, audiences

The Virtual Presser is an interactive online video platform where journalists based abroad can ask top government officials of the Duterte administration questions on the nation’s pressing issues relevant to global conversation. (PNA Photo)

MANILA — The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), through the Office of the Global Media Affairs (OGMA), will launch on Monday the pilot episode of “The Virtual Presser”.

The Virtual Presser is an interactive online video platform where journalists based abroad can ask top government officials of the Duterte administration questions on the nation’s pressing issues relevant to global conversation.

Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Secretary Salvador Panelo, will be the program’s first guest to talk about policies of the Duterte administration that have international relevance.

“This will be another opportunity for us to connect to international audiences to respond to pressing issues and enable foreign journalists to ask questions without leaving their desks,” Communication Secretary Martin M. Andanar said.

“We gather together, diversified activities of the Executive departments of government, into a common thread of information that is clear, exacting, factual, and comprehensive enough, for the understanding of everyone in whatever circumstance,” the PCOO chief added.

Chief of OGMA, JV Arcena, said the virtual press conference is just one of the upcoming programs lined up by the PCOO for the international media and foreign audiences.

The Virtual Presser, Arcena said, is the fastest and cheapest way to engage the global media and to respond to their questions.

“This will enhance our engagements with the foreign media, and make sure that they get the same level of attention, the same accurate information as our local journalists. We believe that the international media play a big role in amplifying the Philippines’ policy messages,” he said.

The latest installment of The Presser series is a continuing effort of the PCOO to fight disinformation and promote government-media bridge policy.

“Our work is a continuing process of summarizing, simplifying, and satisfying the fundamental need to inform. We remove ambiguity, we clarify the obscure, we correct the false, we extol the truth. We drive hard objective realities of achievements and shortcomings. We do not fascinate, neither do we compromise. We press. This is a commitment of the presser. May this occupation be the responsibility of all,” Andanar added.

The launch of PCOO’s Virtual Presser comes after the launch of The Presser Weekend in Muntinlupa City on April 6, to focus on informing the local media about issues at the local level. The PCOO also launched The Presser in September 2018 to brief reporters on national-level concerns.

The PCOO OGMA has been tasked to connect Philippine government policymakers with the international media, and to promote priority policy messages through engagements with foreign audiences.

International media interested in joining The Virtual Presser’s first episode may contact pcooglobalmediaaffairs@pco.gov.ph. (PCOO)