The Marcos administration has launched “The Philippine Gazette,” a printed newspaper that will be distributed to the public for free to raise awareness about its policies and programs.
In a Facebook post, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said its attached agency, the Bureau of Communications Services (BCS), led the free distribution of the Philippine Gazette on Wednesday.
“Inilunsad ng Presidential Communications Office – Bureau of Communications Services kahapon, May 24, 2023 ang The Philippine Gazette, isang libreng pahayagan na magsisilbing tulay upang maiparating sa mga Pilipino ang mga impormasyon ukol sa mga programa at proyekto ng administrasyon ng Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.”
It said the public may get a free copy of the newspaper at the Recto, Cubao, and Santolan stations of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) – Line 2; Philippine National Railway’s Tutuban station; and Manila North Harbor Terminal and Victory Liner Terminal in Pasay City.
Under Executive Order 16 signed by Marcos on Feb.13, the PCO led by Secretary Cheloy Garafil serves as the primary office of the Executive branch in engaging and involving the citizenry and the mass media in enriching the quality of public discourse on all matters of governance. The PCO is responsible for crafting, formulating, developing, enhancing, and coordinating the messaging system of the Executive branch and the Office of the President.
The PCO-BCS, on the other hand, develops and provides communications services relating to policy formulation, communications planning, project development, research and evaluation, and coordination of information planning within the framework of the overall thrust and priorities of the national development plan.
Meanwhile, the Climate Change Commission (CCC), in collaboration with the Kapisanan ng Social Media Broadcasters ng Pilipinas, Inc. (KSMBPI), will launch in June a multimedia content project titled “Tara… Green Na!”
CCC Commissioner Albert dela Cruz and KSMBPI founding chairperson Michael Raymond Aragon signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to establish the partnership aimed at helping the commission in formulating policies attuned to the Marcos administration’s climate action program.
Under the MOA, the “Tara… Green Na!” climate change advocacy project will be aired on PTV4, with the support of print, broadcast, and social media, to disseminate information and educate the public about the government’s national climate change action plan.
The program will be aired every Saturday starting in mid-June, the CCC said in a statement.
The commission noted that the KSMBPI would also assist it in implementing several initiatives to ensure the Philippines would be able to respond to the global call for climate action, as espoused in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
Dela Cruz said the partnership with KSMBPI is a significant step in public and private collaboration to ensure the successful implementation of climate action plans in the country.
With additional reports: Philippine News Agency, Ruth Abbey – Gita Carlos
