PCO undergoes performance audit as Gomez bats for ‘press freedom, digital transformation’

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez, July 11, 2025. Revoli Cortez, PPA pool

MANILA — The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is undergoing a performance audit, newly appointed Secretary Dave Gomez said on Monday, hours after he took his oath as the new head of the agency that has been reportedly blamed for the administration’s low approval ratings.

The performance audit — which began on July 14 — will be “fair, honest to goodness, unbiased,” Gomez told Palace reporters in a chance interview.

“The priority is to conduct a performance audit… Wala naman akong timeline but it is really very urgent,” he said.

“It started this morning, several more meetings this afternoon and tomorrow. All the heads, I want to sit down with them one-on-one, have a deep dive with them and review, conduct an honest-to-goodness performance audit,” he said.

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Policies that will be reviewed include accreditation rules for the media and access to the President for interviews during events, two issues which the PCO has been criticized for before Gomez’s appointment.

“That’s part of the things that I need to revisit… We’ll see how we can improve the coverage of the President, not me,” Gomez said.

“The priority is to communicate the policies and programs of the President, promote press freedom and the digital transformation of the PCO,” he said.

When asked if he would appoint new officials to key posts in the PCO, Gomez said he needed time to study the functions of the organization and assess its performance.

“I need to conduct a fair, honest to goodness, unbiased audit of the office. I want to be fair to everyone,” he said

“It’s a big organization, it’s a big responsibility and I really have to do my homework. I really have to study the organization, how it works,” he said.

“The mandate is clear with me but it should not be about me, it should be about the President, the President’s programs, the President’s policies and how I can help communicate it better and socialize those,” he added.

In the first half of Marcos Jr.’s presidency, the PCO had already seen four other secretaries, namely Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Cheloy Garafil, Cesar Chavez and Jay Ruiz, before Gomez was appointed to the post.

Political strategist and analyst Alan German earlier said Gomez’s designation as the chief communicator of the President could define if the Marcos Jr. administration can stamp a clear legacy in its remaining three years.

“Three years later, if we’re only waking up now, what did we do the past three?” German said. 

“It’s time to be the whip, not the cheerleader,” he added, stressing that Gomez must take the lead in uniting government messaging under a coherent strategic framework, something the administration has failed to do so far.

Gomez — a former journalist and a public relations executive — said his priority is to focus on the administration’s programs and policies, and “expand the digital footprint not only of the PCO but of the entire administration.”

“I just look at it objectively. I’m the fifth [PCO Secretary]. I have a job to do. I have to do it well, and serve the President well.”