Palace to discuss revival of OPS

TOKYO (via Smart/PLDT) – If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The revival of the Office of the Press Secretary will be discussed after the resignation of Ricky Carandang as head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO).

“You don’t want to change too many things and cause unnecessary readjustment. If not necessary why change?” Aquino said in response to questions on the possible revamp of the communications set-up.

He told journalists here Friday night that he was thankful to Carandang for what he had done for the government and the people.

Aquino said Cabinet secretaries are not earning that much as he expressed surprise upon learning they were getting only 40 percent of their gross pay due to deductions.

“A Cabinet secretary makes P95,000 less txes and deductions. I am sure he made a lot more in his previous job and he committed three and half years of his life in the government service. So why shouldn’t I be thankful?” he said.

Asked if the public could expect the return of the Office of the Press Secretary, Aquino said that would be “subject to discussion.”

He said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda had not been absent, but he and deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte share the task of holding media briefings with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.

“I guess there’s a division of labor between the three of them. It’s up to them to decide. What matters is the message is delivered correctly,” he said.

Aquino said they would still have to discuss whether there is a need to replace Carandang or to hire more personnel.

The Office of the Press Secretary was dissolved when the Aquino administration came in. It was replaced by the PCDSPO and PCOO under Executive Order No. 4 signed on July 30, 2010.

The PCDSPO serves as the President’s chief message-crafting body while the PCOO oversees government media outfits, among others.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo yesterday called for an overhaul of Malacañang’s media group and the appointment of a senior administration lawmaker as third presidential spokesman.

Castelo said the presidential communications team has to be revamped and upgraded to ensure effective and efficient delivery of the President’s message to the people.  – Paolo Romero