PH gov’t website getting a makeover

The official website of the Philippine government is getting a slight makeover to ensure it would be free of “divisive politics.”

Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Martin Andanar said the Official Gazette will return to its original mandate as the official repository of government documents and speeches.

The Official Gazette, the country’s official journal, went online at the start of the Aquino administration in 2010.

“We observed that the online version of Official Gazette has already deviated from its mandate. It has become a lifestyle magazine of some sorts, politicizing most of what is supposed to be factual, disallowing proper context to every historical piece and laws,” Andanar said in a statement.

“Hence, the Official Gazette online version remains, but this time, as what it is supposed to be: the official repository of government documents and speeches. We will make sure that every piece of history has a context. We will make sure, that the Official Gazette is devoid of divisive politics,” he added.

Andanar encouraged the public to visit the Official Gazette at www. facebook.com/govph and www.twitter. com/govph.

The website www.gov.ph seen as Gazette newspaper, on the other hand, would now become the Philippine Government Portal, a one-stop shop for all government e-services, according to Andanar.

“This will also serve as the guide for Filipino and non-Filipino citizens whenever they need to know something like transportation means, Pag-IBIG and SSS applications, passport appointments, among others,” he said.

The print edition of the Official Gazette would also continue to be circulated, Andanar said.

All Republic Acts, executive and administrative orders, and circulars are circulated in accordance with the prescriptions of the legislature, he added.

All social media communications of the President’s programs and initiatives, on the other hand, shall be posted Facebook and Twitter by the Presidential Communications, according to Andanar.

Andanar said they also created a new online platform for “Laging Handa,” the crisis communication center of the Philippines.

“We aim to consolidate all updates from all agencies in one page, including all government efforts to manage the situations,” said Andanar about the sites www.gov.ph/ laginghanda, www.facebook.com/ LagingHandaPHL, and www.twitter. com/LagingHandaPH. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)