by Argyll Cyrus Geducos, MB
As part of the office’s reorganization, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has led the oath-taking of seven new officials of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
Taking oath before the President in Malacañang on Thursday, Feb. 16, are:
- Honey Rose Mercado, Undersecretary for Traditional Media and External Affairs
- Franz Gerard Imperial – Undersecretary for Broadcast Production
- Gerald Baria – Undersecretary for Content Production
- Patricia Anne Magistrado – Assistant Secretary for External Affairs
- Ma. Rhona Ysabel Daoang – Director for Traditional Media
- Marvin Antonio – Director for Digital Media
- Lois Erika Mendoza – Director for Content
The recent appointments filled all five undersecretary posts of the revamped PCO.
President Marcos reorganized the PCO through Executive Order No. 16, trimming the number of undersecretaries from seven to five.
Amid the reorganization, Emerald Ridao was retained as Undersecretary for Digital Media Services. At the same time, Cherbett Karen Maralit was also retained as Undersecretary for Operations, Administration, and Finance, based on the PCO website.
The positions of undersecretaries for media accreditation and relations; print media services and related GOCCs; special concerns; broadcast media services and related GOCCs and attached agencies; and operations, plans, and policies were effectively dissolved.
The EO stated that there would be 14 assistant secretaries, one of them “directly reporting” to PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil.
Mercado, who was recently named undersecretary for Traditional Media and External Affairs, would be assisted by five assistant secretaries in charge of print, radio, television, external affairs, and media accreditation and relations. Mercado was Presidential Management Staff (PMS) undersecretary at the start of the Marcos administration.
Based on the EO, the restructured PCO would work closely with Director Paul Soriano, the Presidential Adviser for Creative Communications on communications and information dissemination.
Director Paul Soriano was named Marcos’ creative communications adviser in October. Soriano, a nephew of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, helped in the Marcos presidential campaign.
