GMA: Strengthen ‘anemic’ public information campaign

DAVAO CITY — President Arroyo has ordered the government to strengthen its "anemic" information campaign to make the people more aware of the projects it has undertaken.

"The President has ordered that the information program be enhanced to bring government closer to the people," Philippine Information Agency (PIA) director general and Office of the President senior deputy chief of staff Renato Velasco said.

Velasco made this statement as the guest speaker at the 11th anniversary of the Hermes Club of the Waterfront Insular Hotel here Tuesday night. He also met with PIA’s regional directors from Mindanao.

The government’s information machinery has become weak and is unable to cope with the advanced mode information dissemination used by private media agencies, including the dissemination of information on the politics of certain issues, Velasco said.

"Government information (dissemination) is anemic," he said. "Most of our information officers are not telegenic enough to capture the message we want to send across."

"Basically, the information technology needs ‘retooling’ and we just have to know how to be attuned to the existing media situation," Velasco said.

This revitalization of the government’s information dissemination campaign "has nothing to do with next year’s elections," Velasco said. "With or without elections, we really have to improve the communication department."

He added that government information is a vital backbone of democracy. "When people are ill-informed, the adventurous elements would gain the advantage," he said.

He also brushed off speculations he met with PIA’s Mindanao regional directors for the purpose of kicking off the President’s election campaign in the South.

"The meeting really has nothing to do with the elections," he said. "It was purely on the basis of improving our information program so that the people would be aware of the many projects government undertakes for them," he said.