President Marcos has honored state communicators, telling them that communication is one of the foundations of leadership.

Marcos in his speech at the Parangal: Gawad ng Kahusayan sa Komunikasyong Pampubliko on Monday evening, Dec. 16, underscored that governance cannot rely solely on its authority, it needs partners that would connect the government and the governed.

The President stressed that "leaders that fail to connect will fail to endure."

"Policies mean nothing if they are not understood. True leadership builds trust not through words alone but through the clarity and conviction that make these words matter," he said, highlighting the role of state communicators.

"Every award tonight tells a story of transformation. These campaigns and voices are proof that communication is the force that makes governance real," Marcos said.

"To our awardees and participants: Your work has transformed abstract ideas into meaningful, understandable action, making governance a shared experience rather than some distant ideal discussed in high levels of government," he added.

Marcos said government communicators "stood firm" in the face of fake news, disinformation, and misinformation, which thrive in the shadows of social media, spreading lies faster than facts, turning public discourse into a battleground of confusion, manipulation, and eventually chaos.

"Nowadays, disinformation is not just a threat—it is a weapon that is used to distort facts, to sow fear, to weaken democracy. However, the awardees we honor tonight stood firm and proved that integrity is the unshakable foundation of public trust," Marcos said.

The Chief Executive led the awarding of outstanding communication campaigns and strategies by government agencies and local government units in categories such as Public Service Campaign, the Government Innovation Award, Outstanding Digital Campaign Award, the Champion of Information Integrity Award, and the Outstanding Public Communicator Award.

“The campaigns, the messages, and the voices we celebrate this evening remind us what leadership is capable of when there is  a connection with the people,” Marcos said in his speech.

“While these awards recognize your achievements, they are also declarations of leadership standards that enhance public awareness and empower participation in governance,” the President added.  

The “Parangal: Gawad ng Kahusayan sa Komunikasyong Pampubliko” is the inaugural annual awards program of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

"Every award tonight tells a story of transformation. These campaigns and voices are proof that communication is the force that makes governance real,” Marcos told public communicators.

“To our awardees and participants: Your work has transformed abstract ideas into meaningful understandable action, making governance a shared experience rather than some distant ideal discussed in the high levels of government,” he added.

Marcos also thanked media, civil society, and the private sector "for being the stewards of democracy and the champions of accountability."

"Your work does more than report—it shapes the national narrative, challenges complacency, and demands better from those holding public office," he said.

Before concluding his speech, Marcos issued a “call to action,” reminding fellow leaders that governance cannot rely solely on the weight of its authority and “must earn its place in the lives of the people it serves.”