Last ditch effort on to save PIA Office
THE OFFICE of the Philippine Information Agency may be safe for now, thanks to the powers that be in Malacañang.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary
Martin Andanar over the week promised to look for other remedies hoping the regional office of the PIA located in Lualhati Barangay just across The Presidential Mansion will not be displaced.
“We are currently having our last ditch effort para makahanap ng lupa,” Andanar told local journalist 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, Malcanang drew criticism from local journalists after Deputy Executive Secretary Rizalina Justol in his letter ordered PIA personnel to vacate the area.
The Cordillera House, explained by Justol in his letter said the office was deemed dilapidated based on the assessment by the Office of the President Property Inventory Team.
Andanar meanwhile admits he earlier talked with another deputy executive secretary to reconsider the move of Malacanang.
“I already talked with Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra about the issue,” added Andanar as they await a word for Malacanang on whether they will push through with the eviction of PIA - Cordillera
Cordillera based journalist lament 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 nongovernment agencies managed and maintained by PIA and has become a neutral ground for all media and government alike. Roderick Osis