PCO thanks lawmakers for strong support for proposed 2024 budget

Transcript

00:00 Today's hectic budget deliberations at the House plenary was fittingly capped by the

00:04 Presidential Communications Office's presentation and proposal, which drew positive reactions

00:09 and rare bipartisan support as we hear the full report from our Mela Lasboras.

00:17 The interpolations in the proposed budget of the Presidential Communications Office,

00:21 including attached agencies and corporations, is hereby terminated.

00:26 The House of Representatives swiftly terminated the floor deliberation of the proposed 2024

00:32 budget of the Presidential Communications Office earlier today.

00:36 House Committee on Appropriations Senior Vice Chair Stella Kimbo served as the PCO budget

00:41 sponsor so from start to finish, she defended the agency's spending plan and programs.

00:48 The Presidential Communications Office stands as a vital bridge connecting the government

00:53 to its people.

00:55 The PCO ensures that the heartbeat of our nation's initiatives, policies and programs

01:01 reach every Filipino, fostering a deeper understanding and relationship between the government and

01:06 its citizens.

01:08 The role of the PCO transcends mere communication.

01:12 It is about building trust and ensuring that every Filipino is informed.

01:16 During the plenary debates, one of the topics discussed was the media and information literacy

01:22 campaign of the PCO and it drew support not only from the administration's allies but

01:27 also from the opposition bloc.

01:29 "I am one of the PCO in this program or projects, the proposed digital media literacy campaign.

01:37 I agree with our sponsor that the budget should be increased and I will support those initiatives."

01:50 Also the issue about the allegedly excessive number of undersecretaries and assistant secretaries

01:55 of the agency was also brought up and Congresswoman Kimbo firmly reiterated.

02:00 "Just to clarify, our assistant secretaries individually are working with different agencies

02:11 of our government.

02:14 They are working with their daily work.

02:21 The government is paying a very good salary to our 12 assistant secretaries."

02:26 In an interview, PCO Secretary Shelloy Garafil extended her gratitude to the lawmakers for

02:31 their strong support for their budget proposal.

02:34 For the People's Television Network in particular, the good secretary shared her hopes on this

02:39 exciting goal ahead.

02:40 "We have a lot of plans for PTV4.

02:44 It's not number 2, it's not our aim.

02:48 It's number 1.

02:49 There are a lot of exciting times ahead for PTV4 and also for IBC 13.

02:52 They have a lot of programs which I'm sure will excite everyone."

02:58 Reporting from the House of Representatives, Melalee Esmoraz for Donation.

03:02 (upbeat music)