The Presidential Communications Office (PCO; Filipino: Tanggapang Pampanguluhan sa Komunikasyon), formerly known as the Presidential Communications Group (PCG), is the lead communications arm of the Office of the President of the Philippines that is tasked with communicating the administration's messages and the executive branch of government. The office is headed by the Presidential Communications Secretary.
The PCO, together with the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, was previously under the Presidential Communications Group.
The PCO is responsible for conveying the president's messages and the administration's policies to the public. Its vision is to be the leading source of government information, aiming to create an informed and empowered citizenry. To achieve this, the PCO works closely with key stakeholders, ensuring the effective dissemination of information through various media platforms. It plays a vital role in developing and managing the president's strategic communications, ensuring a unified message from the government.
Presidential spokesperson
The Presidential Spokesperson spoke on behalf of the President about matters of public interest. Considering the restricted level of access that the media has to the Chief Executive, the spokesperson was expected to be the primary source of presidential directives in the absence of the President of the Philippines.
The presidential spokesperson was not subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments, and did not have any specific item or template in government.
The position was last occupied by the secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, Martin Andanar, in an acting capacity due to the resignation of Harry Roque, while the Assistant to the presidential spokesperson was Kris Roman of the Duterte administration. During the administration of President Bongbong Marcos, the office was abolished and all its personnel, equipment and functions were transferred to the office of the press secretary then headed by Trixie Cruz-Angeles.
In December 2022, Daphne Oseña-Paez was appointed as the Presidential Communications Office Press Briefer, a position created only for briefings for the Malacañang Press Corps in the New Executive Building. All press conferences that includes President Bongbong Marcos is personally moderated by the PCO Secretary.
In February 24, 2025, the position of a Palace Press Officer was created. The press officer's role, similar to a spokesperson, is to handle media relations for the Executive department. The press officer has a rank of undersecretary within the Presidential Communications Office. The press officer runs regular press briefings with reporters who cover the Office of the President and answer questions from journalists about the president's concerns or opinions. The press officer also explains new government policies, standard updates and daily activities of the president. Claire Castro was appointed for the position.
Overview
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is in charge of disseminating the government's message to private media entities. It exercises supervision and control over state-owned media entities to disseminate the official messages properly and effectively in accordance with the communications plan. It is responsible for the accreditation and authentication of the credentials of foreign media correspondents in line with its primary task to cultivate relations and assist private media entities. It is formerly known as the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) from April 28, 1986, to August 9, 2010, and June 30 to December 29, 2022, from the presidencies of Corazon Aquino to the first two months of her son Benigno Aquino III and the first six months of Bongbong Marcos, and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) from August 9, 2010, to June 30, 2022, during the rest of the administration of Benigno Aquino III and whole of Rodrigo Duterte's presidency.
The PCO Secretary holds a cabinet rank. He/she is assisted by an undersecretary for administration, finance and procurement; an undersecretary for operations, plans, and policies; an undersecretary for legal affairs; an undersecretary for media accreditation and relations; one undersecretary each for digital media, print media, and broadcast media services; an undersecretary for special concerns; an assistant secretary; and an electronic data processing division chief.Executive Order No. 4, s. July 30, 2010: Reorganizing and renaming the Office of the Press Secretary as the Presidential Communications Operations Office; creating the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office; and for other purposes Official Gazette of the Philippines - online edition
The PCO is composed of the following units and agencies:
APO Production Unit Bureau of Communications Services Freedom of Information-Program Management Office Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation National Printing Office People's Television Network Philippine Information Agency Philippine News Agency - News and Information Bureau Presidential Broadcast Service - Bureau of Broadcast Services (Radyo Pilipinas) Presidential Broadcast Staff - Radio Television Malacañang
Powers and functions Pursuant to Section 3 of the Executive Order No. 2, s. 2022, the Office of the Press Secretary shall perform the following functions: Pronounce on behalf of the President the matters pertaining to his/her actions, policies, programs, official activities, and accomplishments. Develop and implement necessary guidelines and mechanisms pertaining to the delivery and dissemination of information on policies, programs, official activities, and achievements of the President and the Executive Branch. Coordinate the crafting, formulation, development, and enhancement of the messaging system under the Office of the President and the Executive Branch. Supervise and Coordinate with the agencies and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC)'s attached to the Office of the Press Secretary for purposes of further strengthening the system of information delivery to the public. Established and Maintain rapport with private media and other similar entities and stakeholders; and Perform such other functions as the Office of the President may assign from time to time.
Organization The Office of the Press Secretary shall be organized as follows pursuant to Section 2 of the Executive Order No. 2, s. 2022:
(a) Office of the Secretary. The Office of the Secretary shall have an Assistant Secretary with support staff not more than twenty (20) personnel to be designated by the Press Secretary and approved by the Executive Secretary in the exigency of the service and in accordance with the civil service law and rules.
(b) Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries. In addition of the foregoing, there shall be Undersecretaries for the following areas. Each of which shall have Assistant Secretaries and Support Staff:
(I) Operations, Plans and Policies
(II) Administration, Finance and Procurement
(III) Legal Affairs
(IV) Media Accreditation and Relations
(V) Digital Media Services
(VI) Print Media Services and related Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC)'s and attached agencies
(VII) Broadcast Media Services and related Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC)'s and attached agencies; and
(VIII) Special Concerns
Key officials +SecretaryPalace Press OfficerDave GomezClaire Castro
Office of the Secretary Dave Gomez – Secretary Atty. Clarissa A. Castro – Press Undersecretary Cecilia M. Suerte Felipe, DPA, LPT – Director III, Chief of the Presidential News Desk (PND)
Undersecretaries Emerald Anne R. Ridao – Senior Undersecretary for Digital Media Services Jorjette B. Aquino – Undersecretary for Administration, Finance and GOCCs Gerald R. Baria – Undersecretary for Content Production Atty. Ronadale M. Zapata – Assistant Secretary for Legal, Administration, Finance and GOCCs Jose Maria M. Villarama II – Officer-in-Charge, Undersecretary for Strategic Communications and concurrent Assistant Secretary for Television
Assistant secretaries Claudyn Marie L. Caparon – Assistant Secretary for Inter-Agency Communications Operations Allan C. Francisco – Assistant Secretary for Integrated State Media News Operations Dale Q. Vera – Assistant Secretary for Media Accreditation and Relations Patricia Kayle S. Martin – Assistant Secretary for Digital Media and Communications Rowena H. Otida – Assistant Secretary for Cultural Affairs and International Engagements Ana Dominique M. Consulta – Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Communications (Build Better More Cluster) Faith B. De Guia – Assistant Secretary for Asset Management and Communication for Disaster Preparedness and Response
Bureau and service directors Nicole M. Poyaoan – Director III, Integrated State Media News Operations Maria Waywaya B. Macalma – Director III, Television Communications Rowena S. Quiogue – Director III, Administration Sheryll Anne M. Lizarondo – Director III, Print Media Communications Atty. Rufino Gerard G. Moreno III – Director III, Financial Management Service
Division chiefs Ma. Alma A. Francisco – Budget Division Ma. Teresa L. Ubas – Accounting Division Gerald M. Bautista – General Services Division Rochelle I. Rubenecia – Human Resource Development Division Mary Willen DJ Renomeron – Procurement Division Atty. Enzo Emmanuel P. Toledo – Legal Division Krizia Casey P. Avejar – Communications and Capacity Development Division Ma. Danica Andeo Orcullo – Policy, Planning, and Support Division Eden Darlene A. Mendoza – Compliance Monitoring Division Jose L. Ogrimen Jr. – Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Division
Attached agency, bureau and office heads PCO Integrated State Media Katherine Chloe S. De Castro – Director General, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Demetrio C. Pasco, Jr. – Executive Editor, Philippine News Agency (PNA) Alan Allanigue - OIC Bureau Director/Head of Agency- Presidential Broadcast Service - Bureau of Broadcast Services (BBS) - Radyo Pilipinas Lino Edgardo S. Cayetano - General Manager, People's Television Network, Inc. (PTV 4) Jose C. Policarpio Jr. – President and CEO, Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC 13)
Other attached agencies Jereco O. Paloma – Officer in Charge, News and Information Bureau (NIB) Atty. Revsee A. Escobedo – Director IV, National Printing Office (NPO) Atty. Gil Carlos R. Puyat IV – President, APO Production Unit, Inc. Arlene A. Barrientos – Officer in Charge, Bureau of Communications Services Franz Gerard R. Imperial – Executive Director, Presidential Broadcast Staff-Radio Television Malacañang (PBS-RTVM)
Units under the Presidential Communications Office With the reorganization of the PCOO under President Bongbong Marcos, most units previously under the agency were transferred to the Presidential Communications Office.
Presidential News Desk The Presidential News Desk (PND) functions as the newsroom of Malacañang Palace. It gathers and disseminates information, such as press and photograph releases, and official statements from the Palace, on a daily basis.
The PND operates from Sundays to Saturdays, 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM. It is headed by a chief editor and is composed of a managing editor, deskmen, and reporters. Other units, which support the PND are Electronic Data Processing, Transcription and Monitoring, and Photographs.