PRESIDENTIAL Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar, over the week, promised to look for other remedies to save the office of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) from being displaced.
“We are currently having our last ditch effort para makahanap ng lupa (to find a lot),” Andanar told local journalists when asked how he can help the PIA office negotiate with the Office of the Executive Secretary after the latter ordered the former to vacate the area.
Earlier in July, Malacañang drew criticism from local journalists after Deputy Executive Secretary Rizalina Justol, in his letter, ordered PIA personnel to vacate the area.
Justol explained that the Cordillera House said the office was deemed dilapidated based on the assessment by the Office of the President Property Inventory Team.
Andanar meanwhile admitted he earlier talked with another deputy executive secretary to reconsider the move of Malacañang.
“I already talked with Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra about the issue,” Andanar added.
Cordillera-based journalists lamented the hurried eviction of PIA, which is left to look for relocation, as it cannot defy the orders of the highest office in the land, the Office of the President, in which they are directly under.
The symbolism of the Cordillera House goes beyond the mandate of the PIA, where former priest turned rebel Conrado Balweg stayed, after signing a peace accord that paved way for the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region.
It also maintains a dap-ay, a sacred gathering place, which has become a favorite venue for meetings for both government and non-government agencies managed and maintained by PIA and has become a neutral ground for all media and government alike. (Roderick Osis)