Manila: The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is proposing a PHP16 million allocation in its 2026 budget to fight "fake news." 'We do a significant amount of work in terms of combating fake news and misinformation, from the digital front to coordination with other government agencies for data on these fake news sites,' PCO Acting Secretary Dave Gomez said during the budget briefing for PCO's proposed 2026 budget on Tuesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gomez emphasized the importance of educating the public against fake news, despite the limited allocation of PHP16 million. The PCO's strategy involves countering fake information on social media with content that clarifies and disputes misinformation. Gomez highlighted that the PCO is leveraging social media platforms through its attached agency system to maximize its efforts.

The PCO has implemented various fact-checking and verification processes. 'We have the media information literacy (MIL) campaign and the digital governance and unified messaging platforms,' Gomez explained. The MIL campaign includes programs, workshops, and trainings aimed at equipping society to identify and combat fake news. The PCO conducts MIL fact-checking workshops with Vera Files and trains fact-check officers from state media outlets across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to enhance their capacity to counter misinformation.

Furthermore, the PCO conducts a 'training of trainers' to create multipliers for MIL education. Educators nationwide are trained to disseminate this knowledge within their schools and institutions, ensuring the program's sustainability and consistency.

In addition to addressing fake news, Gomez defended the PCO's proposed PHP252-million advertising expenses for 2026, which are intended for the Philippines' hosting of the ASEAN Summit and the country's bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. These endeavors would require significant advertising to project the country's image both locally and internationally.

For 2026, the PCO is requesting a total budget of PHP2.808 billion for its operations and those of its attached agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations. The budget includes allocations for various agencies such as the Philippine Information Agency, Presidential Broadcast Service-Bureau of Broadcast Services, Radio Television Malaca±ang, and others, with no subsidy for the APO Production Unit Inc.