Manila: The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is in the process of finalizing the donation of the Government Communications Academy (GCA) located in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, to the Northern Bukidnon State College. This development marks a significant transition for the educational facility, originally a PCO-led initiative.

According to Philippines News Agency, PCO Acting Secretary Dave Gomez stated that the donation process is nearing completion. The initiative is expected to provide substantial benefits to the students of Northern Bukidnon State College. Gomez noted the importance of aligning the PCO's activities with its core responsibilities, highlighting that the Presidential Communications Operations Office, the predecessor of the PCO, should not have undertaken a public works project outside its primary scope.

In a related news release, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian expressed concerns over the PCO's decision to engage the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the project's implementation, citing it as beyond the PCO's core function. The 2024 Commission on Audit (COA) report revealed that the now-defunct PCOO had contracted the DPWH in 2019 for the construction of Phase II of the GCA, with an initial project cost of PHP45.7 million.

Discrepancies were noted in COA reports from 2020 to 2023, which listed a similar project with a cost of PHP79 million. Additionally, it was reported that the GCA does not have a budget allocation for 2026, as funds were designated for completing the remaining 10 percent of construction. Originally intended as a training center for communication offices under Malaca±ang and its associated agencies, the project reflects a shift in focus under the previous administration.