Mayor Francisco "Isko" Domagoso of Manila has instructed city authorities to send an official letter to Meta (Facebook) Philippines, seeking to reclaim ownership of the Manila Public Information Office’s (PIO) verified social media account, which remains under the control of ex-city workers.
During the initial gathering of the Manila City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), Domagoso highlighted the critical importance of quickly regaining control over the account, especially as part of readiness efforts for emergency situations where timely information dissemination will be essential.
He stated that the city government's control over the Facebook page will be handed over to the new City Public Information Officer, Director E-jhay Talagtag, so that all public communication platforms remain functional and properly managed by authorized personnel within the city government.
Domagoso stressed that during crises, when quick and precise sharing of information is essential, the local government should maintain complete authority over its official channels for public communications.
"While the MPIO Facebook page remains under control of unauthorized individuals, we'll share updates about our city right here. Legal action will be taken against those responsible as the account rightfully belongs to the local government. A new leadership has been established in Manila, and rest assured, we're coming for whoever is behind this," stated the mayor.
He stated that he anticipates local government leaders will take prompt action regarding this issue and work closely with Meta to support the transition process, making sure that the online platforms of the Manila PIO remain aligned and responsible under the present leadership.