Daphne Paez named as Palace's 'press briefer'

Television personality and former reporter Daphne Oseña-Paez was named as the "press briefer" of the Marcos administration.

Paez faced members of the Malacañang Press Corps on Tuesday. She was introduced by Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge Cheloy Garafil.

Palace introduces former reporter Daphne Paez as new member of the Office of the Press Secretary. @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/hzrGpFObSU

— ????Anna Felicia (@annafelicia_) December 20, 2022

Paez said she would give updates on events and happenings about the present administration. She said she would "amplify and communicate the message of President Marcos and the Cabinet and the government."

"Since I will be the one who will be regularly your source for updates from the Palace, I look forward to working with all of you of course in a harmonious and collegial manner kasi I am also one of you," Paez said at a Palace presser.

"I am very honored to be communicating the message and programs of this administration of course in an accurate and effective way and I will do my best," Paez added.

Asked if she is President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s spokesperson, Paez said, "the President will speak for himself. I am just here to support the Office of the Press Secretary for now."

According to Garafil, Paez used to cover the Malacañang beat. She added that Paez was previously recognized as Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF.

"Isang karangalan na makasama namin sa Office of the Press Secretary ang isa sa mga lumalaban para sa karapatan ng mga kababaihan, kabataan at ng kalikasan," said Garafil.

(It is an honor to work with someone who fights for the rights of women, the youth, and the environment.) 

Cabinet meeting

At the same briefing, Paez said the 13th Cabinet meeting was held Tuesday where secretaries presented to Marcos the key accomplishments of their respective agencies from July to December of this year.

She said those agencies that presented include the Department of Finance, National Economic Development Authority, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Tourism, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of National Defense.

Marcos, for his part, said he was elated with the accomplishments of the Cabinet secretaries in the past months.

"I think we have managed that and I’m very happy that we were able to do it,” Marcos said in a toast during a luncheon he hosted for Cabinet members.

"I am told I am to make a toast. I will toast you all for the good work that you have done, the good [start] that you have done, as I said earlier I think you have done some significant things," the President said.

The plans of government agencies for 2023 were also tackled during the Cabinet meeting. —KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News