MANILA – The government’s partnership with private media emphasized the greater role of information dissemination efforts in saving lives during this pandemic, according to Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Adanar on Friday.
“Limitado po ang government media. Pero dahil sa crisis communications policy natin na Laging Handa ay nagawa po nating maiparating at maturuan ang ating mga kakabayan na kailangan mag-mask, maghugas ng kamay, at mag-physical distancing [The government media has limited reach but with our crisis communications policy, Laging Handa, we are able to reach more people and remind them to mask up, wash their hands, and observe physical distancing],” he said during an interview during the National Press Club’s Report to the Nation Media Forum.
As an initiative to reach more audiences and to deliver timely news on the COVID-19 situation of the country, the PCOO partnered with the NPC and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) in 2020, allowing government programs to be aired on the platforms of the private media partners, and relay important messages of the government.
Secretary Andanar said that media workers should not be undervalued, considering that in times of crisis they are among essential workers toiling to provide information to the public.
“Just imagine kung wala yung KBP. Siguro marami namatay dahil hindi natin alam yung new normal. Wag nating mamaliitin ang media kasi kung kailangan niyo ng balita kami ang hahanapin niyo [Just imagine if we didn’t have the KBP. More people would have died because they did not know the new normal. Let’s not underestimate the media because when you need news, you will look for us],” he said.
The PCOO chief also thanked the NPC and the KBP for their continued support of the government and for “carrying the torch of press freedom”.
“Napakalaking tulong ng National Press Club at KBP sa ating gobyerno to remind us kung saan nagkamali at kung ano yung dapat baguhin. I believe that freedom of the press should really be respected, and should really be fostered [The National Press Club and KBP helps to remind us of our missteps and what else needs to be changed. I believe that freedom of the press should really be respected, and should really be fostered],” he said.
