LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin M. Andanar vowed to strengthen the information network of the national government with local government units.
This move, Andanar said during his visit here on Aug. 11, seeks to effectively cascade the public policies and reform agenda of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte through establishing rapport with information officers of LGUs.
In meeting executives of regional and provincial offices of national government agencies, chief executives of LGUs and their information officers, Andanar expressed elation for the overwhelming response of Pangasinan leaders in his first official visit to the province.
“I really appreciate your presence. Makakarating kay President Duterte ang suporta ng Pangasinan,” Andanar said, as he lauded the Espino brand of leadership, particularly in public management.
The Cabinet secretary cited Pangasinan as second to Davao City, where President Duterte served as local chief executive for a long time, in terms of “public management.”
Prior to meeting representatives from the bureaucracy at the Provincial Training and Development Center in Lingayen, Andanar paid a courtesy call on Governor Amado I. Espino, III at the Provincial Capitol building.
Leading the officialdom of Pangasinan in welcoming Andanar, Governor Amado Espino III said the visits of Cabinet secretaries in the province had been opportunities where the Cabinet officials communicate the national administration’s development agenda to Pangasinenses.
Joining the governor were: 5th District Rep. Amado T. Espino Jr., Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Salvador Perez, Nestor Reyes, Rosary Chinky Perez-Tababa, Raul Sison, Generoso Tulagan, Angel Baniqued, Jr, Noel Bince, Jeremy Agerico Rosario, Liberato Villegas, and Antonio Sison.
Also sitting at the presidential table were PCOO Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag and Social Security System Commissioner Gonzalo Duque.
Meanwhile, Andanar convened the information officers of city and municipal LGUs at the Capitol Resort Hotel where he informed them about the idea of establishing a Provincial Communication Officers network to serve as a two-way communication vehicle to promote various programs and projects of the national government and LGUs.
This, he said, will assure that ‘no misinformation will be transmitted to communication outlets’ which puts malice to the reform agenda of the national and local administrations.