The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) will work to improve public access to government data and strengthen media engagement to help Filipinos understand how institutional reforms, including faster disaster relief delivery, translate into more efficient public services and lasting benefits.

“Not just making the President more accessible, pero explaining more to, maipaliwanag nang mas maganda sa mga kababayan natin ano ang ginagawa ng gobyerno,” PCO Acting Secretary Lino Cayetano said during an interview with members of the Malacañang Press Corps on Friday.

Cayetano added that the PCO would work to make government data more accessible to the media and encourage Cabinet secretaries, bureau heads, and other government officials to explain the reasons behind their policies and decisions.

“Giving data accessible to you, making sure that our Cabinet secretaries, our bureau heads, and people in government are able to explain to you bakit natin ‘to ginagawa. Kasama na rin doon yung pagpapaliwanag namin dito sa PCO,” the official said.

As an example of how government reforms can improve public service, the PCO chief cited the faster delivery of relief goods to disaster-affected communities.

The official recalled that, in the past, some disaster-hit communities had to wait up to a week for relief assistance.

Under the current system, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, aims to ensure that assistance reaches affected communities within 48 hours.

“Nandun ako noong lumindol sa Mindanao. We went down to Sarangani, South Cotabato. Four hours after the earthquake, nandun na yung relief goods,” Cayetano said.

The PCO chief explained that the faster delivery of assistance was made possible by changes in logistics and the pre-positioning of relief supplies, allowing the government to respond more quickly when disasters strike.

“It’s because inayos nila yung sistema ng logistics and pre-positioning of goods. And it’s a whole process,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano noted that communicating these reforms requires more than simply announcing that relief goods have arrived. The public should also understand the processes and improvements that make faster delivery possible.

The official described the changes as a potential lasting contribution of the administration and the DSWD to disaster response and public service.

“So parte na ‘yan na maging legacy na ng DSWD at ng Pangulong ‘to. Sistemiko yung ginawang pagbabago,” the official said.

The PCO chief said the office would continue working with government agencies and the media to explain how policies, programs, and institutional reforms are intended to deliver more effective services to Filipinos. Presidential News Desk