Date: 22 June 2017

Re: Briefer on Bureau of Communications Services (BCS)

Please see attached briefer containing the following materials:

page

Fast Facts 2

Comparison in Functions: BCS vs PIA 4

Thank you.

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BUREAU OF COMMUNICATION SERVICES (BCS) FAST FACTS

What is Bureau of The Bureau of Communication Services (BCS) is an attached agency of

Communication the PCOO responsible for the development of communication services,
Services (BCS)? and for providing services relating to policy formulation, communication
planning, project development, research and evaluation, and the
coordination of information planning within the framework of the over-
all thrusts and priorities of the national development plan.

Source: Sec. 17 of E.O No.4 dated 30 July 2010

Mandate and Mandate of BCS

Functions of BCS - to continuously provide government organizations and select groups
information on the Presidents thrusts, priorities and accomplishment
through publications, networking, special events and other
communications support services.

Functions of BCS
a) Develop and conduct public information campaigns that will
enhance awareness to and secure positive public acceptance and
support of the programs and activities of the government and the
Presidency;
b) Coordinate information dissemination programs and projects
including campaigns directed at the Bureaus specific target
publics;
c) Supervise the over-all conceptualization, and production of
special Publications and audio-visual
information/communication materials for the government and
the Presidency;
d) Supervise the conceptualization, production, printing and
dissemination of all information/communication materials and
publication in support of the government and the Presidency.

Primary Role of BCS The Bureau's primary contribution is its publication. It produces
information materials for state events such as the anniversary of
the People Power Revolution, Araw ng Kalayaan celebrations, and others.

Source: BCS website

Organizational Set-up The Bureau is headed by the Director and assisted by four (4) division
chiefs. The incumbent head of the BCS is Director John S. Manalili. The
four (4) divisions of the bureau are:

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 a) Planning and Research Division- tasked with work planning,
project monitoring and evaluation and data banking.
b) Special Operations Division- produces photo exhibits, organizes
forums, and maintains the bureaus website.
c) Special Production Division supervises the development, printing
and dissemination of the bureaus publications
d) Finance and Administration Division performs tasks in support of
the agency operations.

Brief History The Bureau was once known as the Bureau of National and Foreign
Information during the 1970s.

On 1986, then President Corazon Aquino, realizing the need to

strengthen her press office, issued Executive Order No. 297,
otherwise known as the Reorganization Act of the Office of the
Press Secretary. It redefined the functions and responsibilities of
the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) and rebuilt its structural
organization. Part of the structural changes in the OPS was the
abolition of the Bureau of National and Foreign Information and the
creation in its stead of the Bureau of Communication Services.

In 2004, former President Gloria Arroyo signed EO 348 creating the

Office of Communications Director and placing the BCS under the
control and supervision of the Group Head of the Government Mass
Media Group.

Recent A book series by the Bureau of Communications Services entitled

Program/Project Ugnay: Connecting with the People was launched last January 31,
2013 at the National Library of the Philippines in Manila.

The said book is a compilation of 500 publications from the 20

government line departments to help any researcher navigate
through the web of available government information resources.

As of 2014, three books had been published under the Ugnay series.
Ugnay 3: Connecting the People updates the list of government
publications featured in Ugnay 1 and 2.

COMPARISON OF FUNCTIONS: BCS vs. PIA

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 Bureau of Communications Philippine Information Agency
Services
Legal Basis EO 4 dated 30 July 2010 EO 100 dated 24 Dec 1986

Similarities in Functions
Functions Develop and conduct a public Plan and implement information
information program that programs of the national scope;
will enhance awareness to Assess information needs of the people
and secure positive public through opinion polls and surveys to be
acceptance and support of used to systematically obtain the public's
the programs and activities of needs and views on government
the Government and the programs and to plan information
Presidency; programs;
Coordinate information Perform whatever tasks assigned by the
dissemination programs and President.
projects including campaigns
directed at the bureaus
specific target publics;
Supervise the
conceptualization,
production, printing and
dissemination of all
information/communication
materials and publications in
support of the activities of
the Government and the
Presidency;
Perform such other functions
as may be provided by law.

Differences in Functions
- Provide technical assistance to other
government agencies on the communications,
component of their programs;
- Establish and maintain selected
regional/provincial information centers on
community needs for used in planning
communications programs and provide basic
information of government and on areas of
particular interests to the community it
serves;

- Support the development and expansion of

indigenous media and
information/communications technology;

- Conduct research studies for policy

formulation and the evaluation of information

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 program effectiveness;

- Upgrade skills of government information

officers, rural broadcasters, communicators,
journalist and other communications
personnel through training services and/or
consultancy;