Outgoing Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Tuesday called on the country's media practitioners to continue holding the government accountable to the public even beyond the Duterte administration.
In his parting speech with the media in Malacañang, Andanar enjoined "everyone to continue to enliven the spirit of democracy beyond this administration" as "a new chapter," this time under another Marcos administration, "is ahead of us."
"Let us make sure that transparency and accountability remains at heart of all government transactions," he said.
Andanar also took pride the Duterte administration, through the Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO), managed to strengthen its partnership with the private media in the past six years.
He said it is "one of the best initiatives" that the office has ever undertaken.
"Our Laging Handa crisis communication efforts which was aligned with our campaign to public safety messaging and public service announcements amid the pandemic and other challenges faced by the country, was openly disseminated by the MPC and our partner media at the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)," he said.
He also lauded the reporters covering Malacañang whose roles have been impactful in delivering "information and key messages from the Palace and the President himself."
"You have been part of building the nation and shaping our history, expanding the access of information to every corner of the Philippines," he said as he also expressed his gratitude to the media practitioners.