WHILE the President continues to “validate” the performance of his Cabinet pointmen, one of his political appointees who had just been bypassed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) implemented his own version of “reorganization.”
In a special order released on June 11, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz tapped Undersecretary Michael Lim Ubac to “oversee” six PCO-attached agencies.
The order specifically cited the urgent need to ensure “continued oversight, coordination, and alignment of high-priority messaging and interagency communications initiatives under the Office of the Secretary,” for which he designated Ubac to exercise “supervision and functional oversight” over the following offices:
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Print
- Bureau of Communications Services
- Media Accreditation and Relations Office (under the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Media Affairs and Relations)
- Presidential News Desk
- Unified Communications Platform
- National Security Concerns Unit.
“In this capacity, Ubac holds strategic and supervisory control over press accreditation, messaging on national security and sensitive issues, editorial consistency and interagency coordination,” the order further reads.
“His expanded role also includes organizing press briefings, managing media logistics, and maintaining relations with the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC),” Ruiz added.
In a separate order, Ruiz designated PCO Assistant Secretary Erelson Cabatbat as pointman for Media Affairs and Relations “to strengthen coordination and delivery of media-facing public communications and institutional relations with accredited press partners.”
Under his designation, Cabatbat will assist Ubac in the implementation of his assigned oversight functions, including the following:
- Management and coordination of the Media Accreditation and Relations Office
- Liaison and coordination with the MPC
- Facilitation of press briefings, media coverage, and event logistics.
Cabatbat was also tasked to provide operational and editorial support for all institutional engagements involving accredited media partners, both domestic and foreign; ensure that procedures for media accreditation, press access, and briefing management are executed in compliance with internal protocols and quality management systems; and collaborate with the Office of the Undersecretary, Palace Press Officer, and content teams to ensure proper preparation of talking points, press kits, event notices, and clearance documentation.
Ruiz also designated senior undersecretary Analisa Puod as head of the Strategic Communications Cluster and Supervising Officer for Interagency Communications Operations “to ensure effective coordination of government messaging across traditional media, state-run platforms, and interagency communication offices.”
Under this designation, Puod shall provide strategic direction and supervisory oversight over the following offices:
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Radio,
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Television,
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Integrated State Media News Operations,
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Interagency Communications Operations (Oasiaco)
- People’s Television Network, Inc.
- Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
- Presidential Broadcast Service
- Bureau of Broadcast Services
- News and Information Bureau
- Philippine Administrative Network Project
- Strategic Communications Administrative and Finance Unit.
Following Marcos’ “recalibration of the Cabinet,” the President dismissed PCO Undersecretary for Administration, Finance and GOCCs Jorjette Aquino; Assistant Secretary for Inter-Agency Communications Operations Claudine Marie Caparon; Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Communications Ana Dominique Consulta; and Assistant Secretary for Media Accreditation and Relations Dale De Vera.
The President also accepted the “courtesy resignations” of PCO directors Maribel Dario, Sheryll Anne Lizarondo, Alexius Calda, Luis Morente, Lee Ann Ducusin, Nelson De Guzman and Robertzon Ramirez were also accepted by the chief executive.
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Deputy Director General Adolfo Ares Gutierrez also resigned from his post while director Florante Solmerin was terminated.