By Earl Jed Roque/PNA
MANILA — Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar urged local government officials and media members to foster ‘good engagement’ to highlight the achievements of every local government unit throughout the country.
Andanar made his call as the PCOO held another Freedom of Information (FOI) roadshow and Press Freedom Caravan in Surigao City on Monday, February 11.
“It is easier for you to report your gains faster if you have friends in the media. You must have good engagement,” Andanar said.
Andanar said government officials and employees should help provide solutions to media if they encounter any problems in the conduct of their jobs.
He said that President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s issuance of an executive order on Freedom of Information (FOI) will help in combatting fake news and disinformation.
“Freedom of information underlines the wisdom of the public. Fake and false news presumes an ignorant public. Freedom of information cleans the media environment from the pollution that is often spread through social networking sites,” Andanar said.
Through the FOI, Andanar said the public may now access documents of the government’s programs and projects.
“The work of government becomes the reality that we all desire,” he said.
Surigao City Mayor Ernesto Matugas, who attended the FOI roadshow, agreed with Andanar saying the public has the right to know the works of government.
“The Freedom of Information program will be a big help in putting into place an effective mechanism in local governance as it seeks to increase transparency and accountability and improve decision-making and public understanding of issues,” Matugas said.
Andanar said he has been going around the country to personally meet local media workers and to hear their different concerns.
“It is only through media engagement that we can find out the real issues facing media. The issues that you face in Surigao as a media practitioner may be different from the issues that they face in Digos City or in Cagayan de Oro or in Butuan,” he said.
Andanar, a former media practitioner himself, said he will continue to strengthen the interest of the media through policies, media engagement, and media solutions.
