Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed former Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Cherbett Karen Maralit as the new board member of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO). Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed to Palace reporters Maralit's new government assignment.

According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos signed Maralit's appointment paper on Dec. 2. Maralit replaced former PCO Secretary Jay Ruiz, who assumed the post in July this year after his brief stint as the government's communications head.

Maralit previously held the post of PCO undersecretary for operations, administration, finance, and government-owned or -controlled corporations. She represented the agency at international conferences on transparency and access to information, including serving as rapporteur at the 15th International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) in Albania in 2024.

Before her tenure at the PCO, Maralit served as chief of staff to the late Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and to Sen. Loren Legarda.