The Presidential Communications Group or simply the Communications Group, is a collective name for the newly formed offices within the Office of the President of the Philippines

President of the Philippines

The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...

 referring to the following positions and offices: the Presidential Spokesman, the Presidential Communications Operations Office, formerly the Office of the Press Secretary, and the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office. The Communications Group is primarily responsible for planning, programming, and coordinating the activities that will most effectively collect information about what is happening in the Executive branch of the government and getting that information to the media

Mass media

Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...

. In addition, the Group's greater role is to help Filipinos understand government policies and programs as well as shore up support for such.

Presidential Spokesman

The Presidential Spokesman speaks in behalf of the President on matters of public interest, among other things. Considering the restricted level of access that media has to the Chief Executive, the Spokesman is expected to be the primary source of presidential directives in the absence of the President of the Philippines.

The Presidential Spokesman is not subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments for he does not have any specific item or plantilla in government.

Presidential Communications Operations Office

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) is in charge of disseminating the government’s message to private media entities. It also exercises supervision and control over state-owned media entities to ensure the proper and effective dissemination of the official messages in accordance with the Communications Plan. It is also responsible for the accreditation and authentication of the credentials of foreign media correspondents, in line with his primary task to cultivate relations and provide the necessary assistance to private media entities.

The PCOO is headed by the PCOO Head with Cabinet rank. He is assisted by an Undersecretary for Administration and Finance, an Undersecretary for Operations, a Chief of Staff, an Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, and an Electronic Data Processing Division Chief.

The PCOO is composed of the following units and agencies:

• News and Information Bureau;
• Philippine News Agency;
• Philippine Information Agency
• IBC 13;
• RPN 9;
• PTV 4;
• PBS-Radio-Television Malacanang
• Bureau of Communications Services;
• National Printing Office;
• APO Production Unit; and
• OP Web Development Office (commonly referred to as the President's New Media Team).

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office

The Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) ensures that all aspects of communications are covered to ensure that the administration’s message has been delivered successfully. This includes market research and polling. It devises the communications strategy to promote the President’s agenda throughout all media and among the many publics with which the administration interacts. This can include, but certainly are not limited to, the State of the Nation address, televised press conferences, statements to the press, and radio addresses. This Office also works closely with cabinet level departments and other executive agencies in order to create a coherent strategy through which the President’s message can be disseminated.

The PCDSPO is headed by the PCDSPO Head, with Cabinet rank. He is supported by a Deputy of Undersecretary rank, a Chief of Staff, an Assistant Secretary for Messaging, and an Electronic Data Processing Division Chief.

The PCDSPO is composed of the following units and agencies:

• Presidential Message Staff;
• OP Correspondence Office, (previously placed under the Office of the Communications Director from the Presidential Management Staff per E.O. No. 348, 11 August 2004)
• Media Research and Development Staff, (as created by E.O. No. 297, 25 July 1987, from the Office of the Press Secretary;)
• Presidential Museum and Library
• Official Gazette; and
• Speech Writers Group (previously placed under the Office of the Communications Director from the Presidential Management Staff per E.O. No. 348, 11 August 2004)

Presidential News Desk

The Presidential News Desk (PND) functions as the newsroom

Newsroom

A newsroom is the place where journalists—reporters, editors, and producers, along with other staffers—work to gather news to be published in a newspaper or magazine or broadcast on television, cable or radio...

 of Malacañang. As such, it gathers and disseminates information, such as press and photograph releases

Photograph

A photograph is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic imager such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are created using a camera, which uses a lens to focus the scene's visible wavelengths of light into a reproduction of...

, 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

Editing

Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...

 and is composed of a managing editor

Managing editor

A managing editor is a senior member of a publication's management team.In the United States, a managing editor oversees and coordinates the publication's editorial activities...

, deskmen, and reporters. Other units, which support the PND are Electronic Data Processing, the Transcription and Monitoring, and Photographs.

The PND was conceived by Francisco Tatad

Francisco Tatad

Francisco “Kit” Tatad is a political figure in the Philippines.-Journalist:Tatad practiced journalism as a wire service reporter for the Agence France-Presse...

, who was the Press Secretary to President

President of the Philippines

The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...

 Ferdinand Marcos

Ferdinand Marcos

Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...

. It was called the Central Desk and used to hold office at the Mabini Building. During the administration

Administration (government)

The term administration, as used in the context of government, differs according to jurisdiction.-United States:In United States usage, the term refers to the executive branch under a specific president , for example: the "Barack Obama administration." It can also mean an executive branch agency...

 of President Corazon C. Aquino, Press Secretary Benigno Teodoro relegated the Central Desk, which became the News and Reportorial Section, as a section of the Presidential Press Staff. Under the Ramos

Fidel V. Ramos

Fidel "Eddie" Valdez Ramos , popularly known as FVR, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing international confidence in the Philippine economy.Prior to his election as...

 administration, Press Secretary Rodolfo Reyes strengthened presidential coverage and set up the PND.

Philippine Information Agency

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) was the product of a Executive Order No. 100, which was promulgated on December 24, 1986 that abolished the Marcos-era Office of Media Affairs-National Media Production Center.

The PIA is organized into 11 divisions, 15 regional information offices, 74 provincial information centers, 911 community development information centers (CDIC).

Its subordinate units include the:

• Motion Pictures Division/Film Laboratory,
• Public Opinion Polls Division,
• Media Studies Division,
• Media Infrastructure Division, and
• Human Resources Development Division.

Bureau of Communication Services

The Bureau of Communication Services is the attached agency of the OPS that is tasked to provide materials and services related to various functions of the OPS and its bureaus, such as policy formulation, communication planning, and project development.

It also produces information materials for state events such as the anniversary of the People Power Revolution, Araw ng Kalayaan celebrations, and others. Its current director is Eduardo M. Varona.

Presidential Broadcast Staff - Radio TV Malacañang

Created under Executive Order No. 297 on July 25, 1987 by President Corazon C. Aquino, the Presidential Broadcast Staff - Radio Television Malacañang is tasked to provide the necessary media services (video and audio) to the incumbent President, to document all official engagements and to make available to the public accurate and relevant information on the activities, programs and pronouncements of the national leadership.

The agency is involved in television coverage and documentation, news and public affairs syndication of all the activities of the President, either live or delayed telecast through government or private collaborating networks.

Television and radio networks

There are three government-run television networks, which are the People's Television Network (PTV-4), the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation

Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation

Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation is a Philippine VHF television network of the Government Communications Group headed by the Press Secretary. Its studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol Hills, Diliman, Quezon City and its transmitter is located at the Coca Cola plant,...

 (IBC-13) and the Radio Philippines Network

Radio Philippines Network

Radio Philippines Network, Inc. is a broadcast television network in the Philippines co-owned by the Government Communications Group, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Far East Managers and Investors Inc., and private sectors. This station studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol...

 (RPN-9) and operates as well the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS) which the government radio network.

IBC-13 and RPN-9 were sequestered by the government after the fall of the Marcos dictatorship. However, plans are being made to privatize

Privatization

Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...

 IBC-13 and RPN-9 within two years to increase the government coffers. According to the 2009 report of the Presidential Commission on Good Government

Presidential Commission on Good Government

The Presidential Commission on Good Government, PCGG, is a special body created by Pres. Corazon Aquino to recover ill-gotten wealth accumulated during the Marcos regime.-History:...

 (PCGG), IBC-13 is valued at PHP 3.074 billion while RPN-9 is valued at PHP 1.3 billion.

National Printing Office

The National Printing Office (NPO) was established by Executive Order No. 285 on July 25, 1987. EO 285 abolished the General Services Administration and transferred its functions to other pertinent agencies. Its Government Printing Offices was merged with the printing units of the PIA. The NPO is mandated by EO 285 to print forms

Form (document)

A form is a document with spaces in which to write or select, for a series of documents with similar contents. The documents usually have the printed parts in common, possibly except for a serial number...

, official ballot

Ballot

A ballot is a device used to record choices made by voters. Each voter uses one ballot, and ballots are not shared. In the simplest elections, a ballot may be a simple scrap of paper on which each voter writes in the name of a candidate, but governmental elections use pre-printed to protect the...

s, public documents, and public information materials.

News and Information Bureau

The News and Information Bureau's main aim is to provide efficient, effective, productive, and economical services relating to the development and formulation of a domestic and foreign information program for the Government in general, and the Presidency in particular, including the development of strategies for the dissemination of information on specific government programs. It is composed of the following divisions:

• Administrative and Financial Division
• Presidential Press Staff
• Media Accreditation and Relations Division/International Press Center

OP Web Development Office

The OP Web Development Office or commonly referred to as the President's New Media Team is responsible for the establishment and management of the President's Official Website and Official Presence on Social Networking Channels such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. It is also partly responsible for the feedback mechanism of the President wherein it receives the comments, concerns and suggestions through the Contact Us section of the President's website. It is also responsible for the President's Social Media engagement and in maximizing the use of new technologies to further the President's agenda, policies and programs.