Senate sub-panel OKs PCO’s 2024 proposed budget

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil briefs senators on the agency’s proposed 2024 budget of PHP1.9 billion during the budget hearing at the Senate on Monday (Sept. 18, 2023). The Senate Committee on Finance’s Subcommittee N presided by Senator JV Ejercito approved the proposed budget. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – The proposed budget of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is to be presented to the Senate plenary after passing the deliberation by the Senate Committee on Finance’s Subcommittee presided over by Senator JV Ejercito on Monday.

The PCO, including its attached agencies, is requesting PHP1.921 billion for its various programs and continuing modernization.

Expressing his full support for the PCO’s proposed 2024 budget, Ejercito emphasized the very important role of the agency in bringing the government closer to the people.

“Mga balita at impormasyon din ang nagsisilbing daluyan ng komunikasyon ng pamahalaan sa ating taumbayan. Ang realidad, bawat administrasyon ay hinuhusgahan sa dami at kalidad ng mga proyekto at mga programang nagawa o napatupad. Dito higit na makikita ang kahalagahan ng PCO (News and information serve as channel of communication of the government to our people. The reality is that every administration is being judged with its projects and programs. From here, we will see the importance of the PCO),” Ejercito said.

“Naniniwala po ako na dapat tayong mamuhunan sa larangan ng impormasyon at pagbabalita (I believe that we should invest in the field of information and reporting),” he added.

Under its proposed budget in the National Expenditure Program, the PCO proper is requesting PHP495.768 million (28 percent); PHP179.485 million (10 percent) for Radio Television Malacañang; PHP378.914 million (21 percent) for the Philippine Information Agency; PHP147.036 million (8 percent) for the News and Information Bureau; PHP13 million (1 percent) for the National Printing Office; PHP95.638 million (5 percent) for the Bureau of Communications Services; PHP482.011 million (27 percent) for the Philippine Broadcasting Service; and a government subsidy for the People’s Television Network worth PHP128.

914 million for its modernization.

PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil admitted to the sub-panel that the agency’s transition from Office Of the Press Secretary was challenging considering the larger scope of mandates and manpower, but likewise gave the office the advantage.

“Nakikita din naman namin na yung setup makes sense kasi mas napapadali po yung trabaho namin sa pagsuporta sa kay Presidente sa kanyang (We can also see that the setup makes sense because it makes our job easier in supporting the President in his) information and communication demands or requirements,” Garafil said.

Executive Order No. 16, issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in February this year, reorganized the PCO giving it five functional areas, each headed by an undersecretary.

These functional areas are Traditional Media and External Affairs, Content Production, Broadcast Production, Digital Media Services, and Operations, Administration and Finance.