Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Lino Cayetano on Saturday said the Marcos administration seeks a climate of cooperation with the media, not a climate of fear, as he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a free, engaged, and critical press.
“We don’t want a climate of fear. We want a climate of cooperation,” Secretary Cayetano said. “Engagement with the media is crucial. Even a critical media is an essential part of a healthy democracy.”
Secretary Cayetano made the statement following his casual forum with the Malacañang Press Corps on Friday, where he discussed PCO’s plans moving forward and the relationship it hopes to build with the press.
He commended the Malacañang Press Corps for its professionalism and dedication, noting that its members are often the first to bring the President’s decisions and their impact to the Filipino people.
Secretary Cayetano described the relationship between government and the press as a two-way street. He encouraged the Malacañang Press Corps to make government better by scrutinizing its work and asking the tough questions, saying this makes the national conversation healthier and keeps public service accountable.
His appeal to the press, he said, is to go beyond politics and catchy headlines and focus on the issues that matter most to ordinary Filipinos.
“Our appeal is simple: let’s talk about what truly affects people’s lives. Scrutinize the President’s policies, programs and projects. Ask how they work and whether they deliver. And help us explain to the Filipino people how these programs help them. That is the heart of development communication, and we can only do it together with the press,” Cayetano also said.
Outlining changes at the PCO following its ongoing reorganization, Secretary Cayetano emphasized the core mandate of the agency.
“We all serve at the pleasure of the President. What matters is that PCO fulfills its mandate: to explain to the Filipino people what this government is doing to make their lives better,” Cayetano said.
Among the changes announced were that Undersecretary Claire Castro will remain as Presidential Spokesperson while taking on a new role within the PCO. The agency will also place renewed focus on on-the-ground communication, including face-to-face engagements in universities and campuses.
Additionally, the PCO will hold regular feedback sessions with the Malacañang Press Corps, provide the press corps with greater access to Cabinet members, and utilize the Malacañang press briefing room more actively as a venue for explaining the President’s message directly to the public.
Secretary Cayetano said the PCO stands ready to explain and defend the administration’s agenda, confident that it is meant to benefit every Filipino, while continuing to uphold transparency, accountability, and open engagement with the media.