Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles has jumped on the Facebook Live bandwagon to boost his engagement with the people a few months after he was replaced as spokesman of the government task force on pandemic response.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
The Cabinet member made his first Facebook Live video called "Karlo Nograles Live!" Saturday night, gamely answering questions sent by followers from personal to government matters. The live-streaming debut of Nograles lasted for an hour.
"Sa totoo lang, kinakahabahan ako. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Mas kinakabahan pa ako ngayon kaysa noong ginagawa natin ang press briefing natin (Honestly, I am nervous. I don't know why. I am more nervous now than when we held our previous press briefings)," he told his livestream viewers.
"First time ko mag-live sa Facebook. Sinusubukan lang natin. Marami kasin katanungan ang nabtatnggap sa Facebook page (It is my first time to go live on Facebook. We are just trying this because I have received many questions on my Facebook page)," he said.
One of the clarifications made by Nograles is that he remains part of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) although he is now working “behind the scenes."
Nograles, a former Davao lawmaker, said he serves as co-chairman of the policy-making government body even though presidential spokesman Harry Roque took his place as IATF spokesman last April.
He explained the government's information dissemination was merely centralized through the office of Roque.
"Hindi po ako natanggal sa IATF. Nandiyan pa rin po tayo sa IATF. In fact, co-chair tayo IATF kasama si Secretary Duque. Hindi lang po ako natuloy bilang spokesperson ng IATF dahil mayroon spokesperson si Pangulo (I was not removed from the IATF. I am still part of the IATF. In fact, I am co-chair of the IATF alongside Secretary Duque. I did not push through as IATF spokesperson because the President already as a spokesperson)," he said.
"Para centralized at isang tao lang ang magsasalita tungkol sa gustong ibahagi ng Malacanang, ng Palasyo, at ni Pangulo at kasama kasama ang IATF diyan, iisa na lang po ang napiling tagapagsalita para sa lahat (To have a centralized system and one person speak on matters Malacañang, the Palace, the President, and the IATF want to disseminate, there will be only one spokesperson for all)," he said.
Even he is no longer the IATF spokesman, Nograles said his work at the IATF continues.
"Tayo ay nasa IATF at kasama 'yung ating ibang mga secretaries sa IATF. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin naman po ang trabaho natin (We are still with IATF alongside with other Cabinet Secretaries. We continue to do our jobs)," he said.
Apart from his IATF work, Nograles addressed questions about the government's programs to address hunger and build houses for typhoon "Yolanda" survivors during the social media forum.
He also discussed other issues such as importance of using face shields to increase protection from the virus, preparations for the smooth opening of classes this October, Universal Health Care program, and quarantine measures to contain the spread of the virus.
On personal matters, Nograles shared his experience in living in Mandaluyong City and Quezon City to pursue his studies.
Nograles studied at Philippine Science High School and earned a college degree at the Ateneo de Manila University. He obtained his law degree from Ateneo de Manila Law school.
"Davao City boy pero QC nung nag-aaral ako. Ngayon nang lumipat ako sa Metro Manila noong ma-appoint ako na Cabinet Secretary, dito rin ako umuuwi sa Quezon City -- Quezon City-zen (I am Davao City boy but Quezon City boy when I was studying. Now that I moved back to Metro Manila when I was appointed as Cabinet Secretary, I go home in Quezon City -- Quezon City-zen)," he said.
The next Facebook live event of Nograles is scheduled next Saturday.