Palace: Columnists obstacles in spreading Aquino's achievements

MALACANANG accused newspaper columnists for being obstacles in spreading the good news and accomplishments of the Aquino administration.

In a press briefing Wednesday, Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the criticisms against the President greatly affect the way the public view the government.

“I think we have no problem with the Malacanang Press Corps. I think, there is no problem with the news itself, maybe [the problem] is with the columnists who have many criticisms,” Lacierda said.

The Palace official noted that there might be a need for Malacanang to engage columnists and explain to them the position as well as the programs of the President.

“These are all columnists — they have their own opinions, they have their own jaded view of certain events,” he added.

Lacierda said the President’s Cabinet secretaries have agreed to communicate more with each other and release regular reports so that the administration's programs are relayed to the people.

He noted that all cabinet departments were required to convey the good news to the Presidential Management Staff and to the communications groups which he heads, alongside Presidential Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon Carandang and Presidential Communications Office Secretary Herminio Coloma.

“So it emphasizes not only once but twice, for the need to bring out the good news to the public,” he said.

Lacierda said they will push for the release of more good news to the people on a regular basis.

President Benigno Aquino III in an ambush interview in Davao City Wednesday morning admitted that his administration is weak when it comes to messaging.

“For whatever reason, kapag tayo ay nanood ng news, nagbasa ng dyaryo, nakinig ng radyo puro wala kaming ginawa, parang walang pagbabago, walang maayos. Puro iyong negative ang napapairal,” Aquino said. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)