Mariano Marcos
State University

PCO Usec Claire Castro holds press briefing at MMSU

By Benedict Jay Collado

Philippine Communication Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro held a press briefing at Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) today, September 25, to discuss different national and local concerns with the media.
 

This is only the third time that Usec. Castro has conducted a press briefing outside Malacañang, after Cebu in March and Iloilo last April. According to Sec. Castro, this allows the PCO to directly engage with local media outlets and communities to discuss and address regional government programs and localized issues.

Reaffirming its commitment to open public dialogue, MMSU, led by University President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano Jr., accommodated various local media representatives and partners from the Philippine Information Agency Region 1, headed by its Director Jennilyne Role, at the pivotal gathering. 

They were welcomed by Vice President for Resource Generation and Management Bjorn Santos, along with Director of the Office for Strategic Communication Herdy Yumul.

During the one-hour press briefing, Sec. Castro responded to questions on various national and local concerns. Notably, she updated the public on the recent enactment of the bill postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) to 2028, Malacañang’s actions to fortify school safety amid recent incidents of school violence, the ongoing oil price hike, and the country’s free trade agreement with the European Union, among others.

Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos welcomed the Palace Press Officer and stressed the importance of the gathering, saying that the province values partnership, noting that good communication is part of good governance.

House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative, Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” III, represented by Laoag City Association of Barangay Councils President, Roque Benjamin Ablan III, said that this is an important event as it brings Malacañang closer to the regions, making information from the national government better accessed and understood by the public. 

Meanwhile, Batac City Mayor Mark Christian “Markee” Chua, in his closing message, thanked the PCO Undersecretary for directly engaging with the local media outlets to discuss local issues and concerns.