MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III is assembling a communications group that will use both traditional and new media in reaching out to Filipinos of all ages.

Speaking to Malacañang reporters at a special press dinner Tuesday night, Aquino said the government is carefully constructing its new media team to be a 21st century version of the media effort of former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay Jr.

"We are making a 21st century version of Magsaysay. If before you had an issue, you sent a telegram but nobody uses a telegram nowadays. If we use short messaging system or text, how many billions of text do we need? If somebody sends us a text, how do we respond?" he told reporters.

He said that aside from text messages, the new communications team will also tap social networks since 18-22% of Filipinos are now members of at least one social network. "The press, the interaction, the production, messaging, lahat ito kailangan gawin, hati-hati," he said.

The new President said he will not appoint a press secretary since having one felt like he was "leading the press."

He added that the new communications group will have two co-equal divisions that may need separate budgets.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda earlier said structural changes in the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) will be "wide-ranging" since the office is already outmoded. He said there is even no harmony among its many attached agencies.

Lacierda said Aquino wants Malacañang to become visible in social networking websites Facebook and Twitter in order to address the needs of the public. The group would address all these, he said.

Sources earlier said the communications group will be composed of former Presidential Management Staff Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, former ANC anchor Ricky Carandang and historian Manuel “Manolo” Quezon III.

The group will supposedly strategize and craft the government’s messages.

Meanwhile, Lacierda denied there is a rift among those who will complete the communications group.

He said all of them have a common job to pursue – promote the president’s advocacies. One will be made a deputy spokesperson, he said. - with reports from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News