SECRETARY Martin Andanar remains on top of the government’s communication operations awaiting the official reversion of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS).
In a recent phonepatch interview with Clyde Hikilan of Hope Radio-Butuan City, Sec. Andanar affirmed that he is still in charge of PCOO as the Executive Order (EO), which will combine his Office and the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson into one OPS, has not yet been signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
He explained, “Tuloy pa rin ang ating trabaho kay Presidente sa PCOO hanggang hindi pa nao-operationalize itong EO for the revival of OPS. Tapos alam naman nating hindi tinanggap nina Sec. Harry Roque at Sec. Salvador Panelo ‘yung posisyon as Press Secretary.”
However, the PCOO Chief assured that everything within his Office has already been set in order to make the transition to OPS as seamless as possible. He also expressed confidence on the judgement of whoever will be the next Press Secretary to consider what will be best for government communications.
“Depende na sa susunod na Press Secretary kung anong gusto n’yang ipagpatuloy na programa. S’yempre bawat Press Secretary mayroong kani-kaniyang priority. For me, I focused on infrastructure because I believe that this is really for the improvement of the government communications services lalo na in this age of technology,” he noted.
Sec. Andanar meanwhile clarified that he has not yet received an offer to be the next Presidential Political Adviser. He said, “Hindi pa malinaw. Depende na lang ‘yan kay Presidente kung saan niya ako ilalagay.”
He added that he’s ready to accept any position that the President deems fit to give him as long as he can be competent for the job. “Kung ilagay niya ako sa ganoong posisyon, walang problema as long as I feel that I can manage the agency. I will If I can capably do it. We need to be realistic. Mahirap namang magtrabaho kung hindi mo alam kung paano mag-manage.
