Communicating the Duterte legacy
Grassroots
communication works.
And to say
that this has greatly contributed to why President Rodrigo Roa Duterte enjoys a
high approval rating from the public is not a one-time thing, but a series of
unrelenting efforts to campaign for a more aware and informed citizenry.
The
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), under the leadership of
Secretary Martin Andanar, has made significant institutional reforms that
brought government media to new heights.
As the lead
communications arm of the government, Andanar pushed for the digitization of
government media platforms, including that of its attached agencies, bringing
closer to the people the messages of the President.
The Internet
has made the PCOO more effective in campaigning for good governance and
informing the public in the span of five years. Social media platforms offer a
more dynamic way to connect with a wide range of people across the world.
For the
Philippine government, this was an opportunity to reach out to more Filipinos
and promote the programs that will become the legacy of “tapang at malasakit”
of the Duterte administration.
The
technological landscape was favorable to disseminating the efforts of the
administration, shaping the awareness of the people that the government is at
all-times at #WorkWorkWork, resounding much like its ambitious infrastructure
program “Build, Build, Build.” This strategy of using digital platforms helped
gain more support from Filipinos present online and earned the admiration of
foreign allies, because information was able to reach the people in real time
wherever they are in the world.
The openness
of the government and its maximized presence online have made it more
susceptible to scrutiny and criticisms, but it “did not succumb to the attacks,
and neither did it allow criticisms, however intense, dampen its determination
and initiatives.” It remained confident because the purpose was “pure,
unpolluted.”
Apart from
leveling with private media on the use of social media to deliver timely news,
it has also encouraged public participation. Strong communication fosters trust
among people, which in return inspires citizens to become involved in their
communities.
With the
government’s public discourse and other platforms of communication, Filipinos
gain the assurance that their national government, through the leadership of
President Duterte, is well-equipped to manage emergencies and other crises.
This is reflected in surveys on trust and confidence expressed by the public
for the President and the Cabinet. In the recent survey conducted by PUBLiCUS
Asia, President Duterte had an approval rating of 58 percent and a trust rating
of 55 percent. In Pulse Asia’s last survey recorded in September 2020, the
President got an approval rating of 91 percent, and the poll firm said ratings
of the President haven’t changed until today. Pulse Asia even cited Davao City
Mayor Inday Sara Duterte’s big lead in the latest presidential survey can be
attributed to President Duterte’s popularity. In fact, analysts shared
unanimously the same view that President Duterte is the most popular
post-Marcos president.
Let’s also
not forget that it was PCOO that initiated the landmark policy Freedom of
Information (FoI), which was made effective under Executive Order 2 signed in
2016. This furthers the promotion of free access by the media and the general
public to transactions, data and information under the Executive branch. It has
established an agenda for good governance and transparency.
Through Radio-Television MalacaΓ±ang, the government was able to air “live” the pronouncements of the President — his State of the Nation addresses, media interviews, meetings and other significant gatherings with local officials. These engagements are being amplified by the Philippine Information Agency’s 90-plus strong social media pages, other state-run and private media making him the “most visible and accessible” president in the country’s history.
