PCO: No public funds used for ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ logo

MANILA, Philippines — No public funds were used for creating the logo of the government’s new branding and communications strategy “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines).

“This was accomplished without any cost to the government,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement yesterday.

The PCO gave assurance that the logo was produced “internally.”

Another rebranding strategy received flak recently when the Department of Tourism, headed by Secretary Christina Frasco, launched in June its “Love the Philippines” campaign with an audio-visual presentation that used stock footage of foreign locations.

“Not a single peso of government fund has been paid,” Frasco said in defense of the fiasco. She told CNN Philippines they spent P49 million on the ad campaign.

State-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.’s new logo also drew scrutiny after it was unveiled on July 11, and House minority lawmakers are seeking a probe into its procurement.

The Bagong Pilipinas logo features three red stripes that represent post-war agricultural and rural development, the post-colonial period, and the current metropolitan development, the PCO said.

The two blue stripes represent future goals: a progressive Philippines that leverages technological advancement in pursuing sustainable industrial development.

The rising sun signifies the dawn of a new Philippines.

The weave pattern illustrates the interconnectedness and unity of the Filipino people.

“Overall, the Bagong Pilipinas logo embodies the Marcos administration’s vision for the country, emphasizing unity, involvement, and the bayanihan culture as the main fibers and components for its full realization,” the PCO said.

Hunger, discontent

Meanwhile, Bagong Pilipinas will not solve the worsening hunger and discontent experienced by Filipinos, according to farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

“Rebranding and sloganeering will not solve the issues faced by Filipinos as long as the government persists with its longstanding neoliberal policies that have pushed the local economy into its worst state,” said KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos.  

Domestic inflation reached a 14-year high of 8.7 percent, and the prices of food, transportation, housing, education and public utilities have become unaffordable, the KMP said in a statement.  

President Marcos’ promises, they said, are “the biggest disappointment of the year.”

The promise of a meager P500 cash aid to 9.3 million poorest families did not materialize, and the P40 daily minimum wage increase for workers in the National Capital Region is insufficient, the KMP added.

The new logo, launched July 3, will be adopted on letterheads, websites, official social media accounts, and other documents of government agencies.

“What will be new in the Philippines if farmers continue to use plows, carabaos, and scythes every day?” Ramos asked.

Farmers, fishers, peasant women and agricultural workers will present the State of the Peasant Address on July 18, ahead of Marcos’ second State of the Nation Address on July 24. – Mark Ernest Villeza