President Marcos declares October as annual Communications Month

MANILA, Philippines — Reiterating the government’s commitment to provide true information about its policies and programs, President Marcos has declared October of every year as Communications Month and Oct. 11 as the anniversary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

The declarations are contained in Proclamation 308 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by the authority of Marcos last Aug. 2.

“The administration aims to provide true, accurate and relevant information regarding its policies, priority programs and projects to nurture a well-informed and enlightened citizenry through appropriate media,” the proclamation stated.

“An effective communication mechanism is vital in the engagement and involvement of the citizenry and the media industry in enriching the quality of public discourse on all matters of governance,” it added.

The PCO is the lead communications arm of the government.

Marcos cited Article II, Section 24 of the 1987 Constitution, which says the state recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building.

He noted that on Oct. 11, 1942, then president Manuel Quezon issued Executive Order 5-W creating the Office of Special Services (OSS), a section under the Office of the President (OP) tasked to collect, collate, organize and disseminate information about the Philippines and the Commonwealth government.

The OSS has evolved to become the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) through various presidential issuances promulgated over the years, according to Marcos.

The OPS handled the OP’s information dissemination and communications operations.

Last year, Marcos issued EO 11, renaming the OPS to PCO.

Proclamation 308 instructed the PCO to lead the observance of Communications Month and identify programs, projects and activities for the annual celebration.

It also directed all agencies and instrumentalities of the national government and encouraged local governments, non-government organizations and the private sector to join and support the PCO in observing Communications Month and its anniversary.

In December 2021, fact checker Vera Files reported that Marcos was the top beneficiary of inaccurate election-related online posts that sought to either prop up or attack certain political aspirants.

Three months later, Marcos – then a candidate for president – said he did not see himself benefitting from “fake news.”