By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the government wants to break from the so-called "Manila-centric" notion that economic activities and progress are only concentrated in the cities within Metro Manila, leaving behind progress in other regions.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar
(ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a recent radio interview in Bohol, Andanar said the pursuit to end that notion is being addressed by taking the services of national government agencies closer to the people.
He said the Presidential Communications Operations Office's (PCOO) role in this pursuit is the management of all government media platforms and offices under its jurisdiction.
He added that visiting the provinces across the country and delivering the President's messages help amplify the promotion of the policies of the administration.
“Ang akong assignment is malibot ang tanan regions para ihatud ang mensahe ni (My assignment is to visit all the regions to deliver the message of) Presidente Duterte, to bring the national government to the regions and provinces,” he said.
However, the former broadcaster admitted that some provinces are hardly reached by state-owned media entities such as the People’s Television (PTV) and Radyo Pilipinas.
“Dili man tanan maabtan sa atong PTV, sa atong state radio. Pareha diri sa Bohol. Kinahanglan gyud ko mag byahe diri para akong ipaabot ang mensahe ni President para akong dad-on ang presensya ni President diri (Not all are reached by our PTV and state-owned radio stations. Just like here in Bohol. I have to come here to deliver the message of the President, likewise bring his presence here),” he said.
"This is what we call as trying to change the norm ng Manila-centric. We will bring national government to you. Kung layo ang Manila (if Manila is far), we will go to you. We’ve been doing that since 2016," he added.