BY REGINA BENGCO

MALACAÑANG yesterday directed government information officers to trumpet the achievements of the Arroyo administration so its candidates could secure an 8-4 win in the Senate race and a sweep of local positions.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita gave the directive during a one-day communication planning workshop at the Bahay Pangarap at the PSG compound, which was attended by the public information officers (PIOs) of all government agencies.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo joined Ermita in giving the PIOs their marching orders.

"Nakataya ang image ng Pangulo dito. While the President is not seeking election or re-election, because this is a mid-term election, siguro naman hindi mahirap intindihin na ang resulta ng eleksyon ay nakatutok sa performance ng Pangulo, ng gobyerno," he said.

"Can you imagine if we get less than what we expect in the senatorial slate?…We expect at least 8-4," he added.

Ermita said the PIOs should not be fazed by the opposition’s campaign propaganda.

"Ano ang kanilang ipinag-mamalaki? Wala, puro laway. At ano ang ipinagmamalaki ng Arroyo administration? Concrete achievements," he said.

He said the PIOs should hammer on the positive economic indicators, the success of the Asean summit, President Arroyo as the head of the Asean, and the counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism campaigns.

Ermita’s speech on the communications plan to project "The Pulling Power of the President" was aired live over government-owned Radyo ng Bayan.

A copy of his speech released to Malacañang reporters did not contain the reference to the elections.

Ermita said "government has a treasure chest of good news that it has been desperately trying to tell our people" in order to make them feel good about society and themselves, but it only manages to get "a few applause here and there."

He said what the media reports – because of its penchant for politicking, political personalities and controversies – are survey results about dissatisfaction at government, distrust in the President, and public perceptions on complacency and corruption which are "more often, ill-contrived by critics, detractors and doomsayers."

STILL MANAGEABLE

He said instead of progress reports on infrastructure projects, the media highlights delays which result in charges of corruption and ineptitude.

"While this situation is getting to be too annoying for comfort, it is still far from being unmanageable," he said.

Ermita said government needs to "turn the tables around" by "drown(ing) the political noises with the louder, but more plaintive music of government milestones and achievements; they should be loud yet soothing enough that people’s ears will be kept attuned to them no matter how distracting the outside noises are."

"On the President’s instructions, we will take matters into our own hands now," he said.

He said Cabinet members and their respective agencies will step up the dissemination of news on socio-economic reforms, enhanced pro-poor programs and evident economic gains, specifically those under the Medium-Term Development Plan and the 10-Point Legacy Agenda.

He said government officials will hold press conferences to ensure the proper dissemination of programs, efforts and achievements.

He said Cabinet members will also visit state universities and colleges to "inform the students, faculty, and staff of the economic gains primarily brought about by the socio-economic reforms initiated by the government, and to encourage their active participation in meeting the socio-economic targets."

"We need to be more aggressive and more proactive. We need to manage media, and not the other way around. And we need to dig deep into our creative spirits and be resourceful enough to get the right message through and across," he said.

Arroyo, in her speech during the Luzon Urban Beltway Anti-Poverty Summit at the Clark Special Economic Zone, presented the government’s anti-hunger master plan as part of its anti-poverty program.

RICE OVER MILK

On the supply side, she said the programs include mangrove and coastal fishery projects, backyard vegetable growing, irrigation, and opening up of two million hectares for agribusiness.

To ensure affordable prices, she said government is constructing barangay food terminals and the Tindahan Natin stores which sell rice and noodles to urban poor hotspots.

She said she still insists on the food-for-school program over supplemental milk feeding because students can take a kilo of rice to their homes and share it with their families. She recalled an incident when the milk from the pork barrel of a senator became rancid and many students got sick.

She also said it is all right if the students sell their rice rations to buy other food items.

On the demand side, Arroyo said people will have money to buy food because government will implement more microfinance projects and labor-intensive programs and train people for higher-paying jobs such as seafaring, call center operations, caregiving, welding and butchery.

"Huwag na muna yung pastillas-making kasi ang pastillas-making mahirap makahanap ng buyers," she said.