PCO asked to lead drive vs fake news
SEN. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito underscored the importance of effective communications in disseminating vital information to the public as he urged the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to lead a campaign against fake news.
During a Senate hearing last September 18, 2023 of the Finance Subcommittee on the proposed P1.79 billion PCO budget for 2024, Ejercito, committee chair, said the proliferation of fake news is a growing concern in our society.
“After waking up and before going to bed, we can read the news using our cellphones. It’s true that information at our fingertips, not everything we read is true or beneficial.
Fake news is still widespread that harms our countrymen, especially our youth,” Ejercito said.
“In such cases, we expect the PCO to lead a campaign that will ensure that the news and the information we receive are correct and true. News and information also serve as a medium of communication between the government and our people,” he added.
Secretary Cheloy Vlicaria Garafil briefed senators on the proposed 2024 budget of the PCO and its attached agencies and corporations.
Garafil said the newly-reorganized PCO proper is requesting P919.9 million but the approved budget was only P495.77 million.
PCO’s attached agencies approved budgets amounting to P1.29 billion.The communications head asked the committee to grant the agency an additional P410.7 million budget which covers the operations, activities and projects of the agency.
