Andanar to continue Coloma’s legacy at PCOO

MANILA, Philippines – Incoming Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Monday said he would continue the legacy of Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. who currently holds the position.

"Aalamin ko muna lahat ‘yung mga magagandang proyekto na dapat tapusin at hindi naman dahil bagong administrasyon ay hindi pagpapatuloy ‘yung mga magagandang proyekto.  Ipagpapatuloy ko ‘yung legasiya ni Secretary Coloma at titignan yung kulang at mga pwedeng idagdag pa para mas lalong mapaganda yung ating serbisyo at serbisyo ng PCOO (Presidential Communications Operations Office),” Andanar said in an interview with People’s Television Network (PTV).

Andanar on Monday met with Coloma to look into the current programs of the PCOO and discuss the transition process of the Aquino administration and the incoming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. He disclosed that he would report to the president-elect and his executive assistant and incoming supervisor of the Presidential Management Staff Christopher Bong Go.

He added that having worked in the government-owned television station PTV in the previous years, he is impressed with the progress of the PCOO.

“I'm very impressed, mukhang lahat ng problema ng PTV4, Radyo ng Bayan at lahat ng sangay ng PCOO ay mukhang tinapos na ni Secretary Coloma. Wala na akong trabahong gagawin,” Andanar said.

“The reason why ako'y pumunta rin dito dahil nga sa invitation nga ni Secretary Coloma siniguro kong malaman kung anong meron at wala sa ilalim po ng PCOO dahil tayo'y magrereport bukas kay President-elect Rody Duterte at kay Secretary Bong Go. Kailangan natin alamin, we have to prepare for the first big event and that's the inaugural nga,” he added.

Andanar, who disclosed that he is a former student of Coloma at the Asian Institute of Management, also mentioned that his biggest challenge is to surpass the achievements of his former professor. He said Coloma lives just a couple of blocks away from him so it is easy to reach him if ever he encounters problems.

For his part, Coloma said he just set up the transition meeting with Andanar to brief him on the operations of the PCOO. He also toured Andanar in the various agencies under PCOO such as Philippine Information Agency, PTV, Philippine Broadcasting Service Radyo ng Bayan, Apo Prod Unit, and the press working area at the New Executive Building in Malacañang, among others.

Asked what project he wants the incoming administration to continue, Coloma replied: “Convergence ng media ng bayan kasi nga iba’t-ibang gov't media assets. Sinalaysay ko sa kanya (Andanar) kung paano nag-u-ugnayan lahat ng mga iba’t ibang ahensya, anong resources ang available sa pamahalaan at kung paano sa bawat pagkakataon sinisikap nating maihatid sa sambayan ang makabuluhan at tamang impormasyon na makakatulong sa pagpapabuti ng kanilang  kabuhayan.”

On Monday, Andanar took to Facebook to express his gratitude to the president-elect for choosing him as his Communications secretary. He said he is accepting the challenge to bring back to its glory days the government media agencies and vowed to stop corruption in PCOO.