Star columnist tapped to help Asean info drive

MANILA, Philippines – The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has tapped a private consultant as it tries to communicate the significance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to the masses. 

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said he has hired Erwin Romulo, grandson of former United Nations General Assembly president Carlos Romulo, as “top private consultant” for the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN meet this year. 

Andanar said Romulo would help in “media affairs” and “messaging.” 

“Erwin Romulo will be part of our management of communications… He is going to be the top private consultant of ASEAN communications under the supervision of PCOO,” he told radio station dzBB yesterday. 

Andanar did not provide details about the compensation to be received by Romulo, who also served as editor-in-chief of the magazine Esquire Philippines and columnist of The STAR.   

Andanar said the PCOO would be “aggressive” in informing the public about the importance of the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN meet. He noted that while 81 percent of ASEAN citizens have heard of the regional bloc, only 24 percent have a basic understanding of what it is and its purpose.

 “The PCOO is the chairman of the media committee of the ASEAN. We took it upon ourselves to be aggressive in terms of communication,” he said. 

To reach the masses, the PCOO plans to conduct roadshows and distribute reading materials and comics about ASEAN throughout the country.  It will also play informative videos about ASEAN in state-run media outlets. 

“We will also talk to theaters and ask them to play the videos so that everyone can understand (the significance of ASEAN). It’s about the law of repetition,” Andanar said. 

The Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN this tear coincides with the 50th anniversary of the 10-country regional bloc.  ASEAN 2017, whose theme is “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World,” will be launched in Davao City on Jan. 15.