KINUWESTYON ng ilang senador ang malaking gastusin ng Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) partikular ang dami ng kanilang opisyal makaraang matukoy na malaking bahagi ng kanilang P1.73-billion budget ngayong taon ay napunta sa salaries at operational costs.

Una nang humiling ang PCOO ng dagdag na pondo para sa susunod na taon upang i-upgrade ang kanilang broadcast facilities subalit napuna ng mga senador na P1.65 billion ng kanilang pondo ngayong taon ang napunta sa salaries at maintenance expenses habang P79.22 million sa broadcast equipment.

“Bakit hindi lumalago? Bakit hindi lumalawak? Kailan ba kayo lalakas talaga?” tanong pa ni Senador Richard Gordon sa pagdinig ng panukalang budget ng PCOO.

“Ang dami ninyong undersecretaries. Ang dami ninyong assistant secretaries. Ang dami ninyong general managers… I-minimize expenses. I only get the people I really need,” dagdag nito.

Sa tala, lima ang undersecretaries ng PCOO habang pito ang assistant secretaries at anim ang directors.

Maging ang kanilang attached agencies kabilang ang Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Bureau of Communications Services (BCS), News and Information Bureau (NIB), Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13), at People’s Television Network (PTV) ay may kanya-kanyang directors at managers.

Under its proposed P1.59-billion budget for 2021, the PCOO earmarked P79.23 million for the improvement of its physical assets, but the bulk of the fund is allocated for the construction of the “Government Communications Academy” and the “improvement” of the PIA’s parking area.

Samantala, hinimok ni Senador Imee Marcos ang ahensya na isantabi muna ang ilang programa tulad ng training academy for media students at i-realign ang budget para sa modernisasyon ng kanilang 13 hanggang 16 stations sa buong bansa. (DANG SAMSON-GARCIA)