Palace wants newspaper columnists in on info loop

Malacañang on Wednesday said there is a need to bring newspaper columnists into an information loop like the one through which the Palace press corps gets updates on the Aquino administration. “So siguro kailangan lang i-engage ang mga kolumnista to have a… Tulad po ng aming constant exposure with the Malacañang Press Corps, siguro we need to explain to various columnists of whatever shade ang posisyon at programa ng Pangulo," Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. Lacierda said connecting with the columnists will be one of the adjustments the Palace Communications Group will do to be more effective in informing the public of the administration’s accomplishments. “I think walang problema sa news itself, siguro doon lang po sa mga kolumnista na maraming nagbabatikos. But these are all columnists kasi —they have their own opinions, they have their own jaded view of certain events," he said. Lacierda also revealed that Cabinet secretaries agreed to communicate more with each other and release regular reports. “During the NEDA cabinet meeting [Tuesday], the need for Cabinet secretaries to talk to each other was discussed. Secondly, the need for cabinet departments to convey the good news to the PMS [Presidential Management Staff] and to the communications group," he added. — Amita O. Legaspi/ELR/VS, GMA News