Cabinet members respond to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during a Cabinet Meeting at the Malacañan Palace. (Presidential photo)

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said it is important to report to the Filipino people the improvements that the country has gained under the leadership of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that will set the benchmark for the succeeding administrations.

He emphasized that in doing so will serve as a challenge for succeeding administrations either to continue the legacy of good governance for the public’s welfare or surpass the Duterte administration’s achievements.

“Ang Duterte Legacy ay ang communications campaign ng pamahalaan para maipaalala natin sa mga Pilipino kung ano yung mga legasiya ni Presidente Rodrigo Roa Duterte sa kanyang anim na taon na panunungkulan (The Duterte Legacy is a communications campaign of the government to remind the Filipino people of the legacies that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has made in his six years in office],” he said in an interview.

“Sa mga nakaraang administrasyon, walang naging legacy campaign so minarapat natin na magkaroon tayo nito para magawan natin ng benchmark ng panunungkulan (In the previous administrations, there were no legacy campaigns. We made sure that we have one so that we can set a benchmark in governance),” he added.

Through the communications initiative dubbed as the Duterte Legacy campaign, the PCOO and its attached agencies are currently amplifying the notable accomplishments of the government.

It highlights legacies on peace and order, infrastructure and development, and poverty alleviation, as well as the government’s Covid-19 response.

“Ang dahilan kung bakit natin ni-rollout itong (The reason why we rolled out this) Duterte Legacy is really for the nation to appreciate what the President, what this administration has done for the entire country, at para din bigyan ng sukatan ang Pilipino kung ano dapat at sino ang karapat-dapat na maging susunod na Pangulo sa 2022 (and also to give Filipinos a measure to which they can compare who deserves to be the next president in 2022),” Andanar said.

Given the limitations in physical interactions and gatherings due to the pandemic, Andanar said they have strengthened their partnership with various media entities.

“The best way to be able to reach the wider Filipino audience and deliver the messages of the President, especially during this pandemic, is through a strengthened partnership with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), who is broadcasting the Laging Handa communications programs that we are undertaking,” he said.

The PCOO chief noted that the Laging Handa Communication campaign, which was created in 2016, prepared the government media in communicating the right information during crisis situations.

This strategy is often used in times of calamities and disasters. And with the Covid-19 pandemic, it has proven effective in providing timely and accurate information to the public.

It gave birth to various approaches of providing information including initiatives such as the Laging Handa Public Briefing, the Network Briefing News, Covid-19 PH Radio, VAXplainer, and Laging Handa Dokyu, among others.

“Pinagsama natin ang government media facilities sa isang direksyon sa ilalim ni Presidente Duterte. Napalakas natin ang (We were able to integrate into one direction our government media facilities under President Duterte. We also strengthened the) Philippine News Agency, PTV, Philippine Information Agency, Bureau of Communications Service, RTVM and the PCOO itself. And we now have broadcast facilities that we never had before,” Andanar said.

He also said that PCOO will push through with its Duterte Caravan nationwide, alongside the visit of Duterte to personally extend his gratitude to Filipinos who have supported him.