Coloma commends Asia-Pacific journalists who joined ICRC media conference
Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma commended Friday the media practitioners who shared their experiences in a regional media conference organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City.
Media practitioners who shared their experiences in covering conflict areas such as North Korea, Indonesia, Egypt and other parts of the world showed their heroism in uncovering truth and supporting democracy, Coloma said.
“You are modern day heroes in the covering of conflict and difficult emergency or calamity situations, as you broadcast vivid images or deliver details to audiences worldwide you create awareness of reality as it unfolds across time zones every minutes of night or day,” Coloma said in his message during the one-day media conference.
As the media creates awareness it also builds consciousness, and eventually consensus, he said. When people find common ground they unite and take action, he added.
The press has been instrumental in the toppling of the Berlin Wall, the triumph of the Edsa People Power Revolution in 1986 and the continuing Arab Spring in the Middle East, Coloma said.
Coloma also shared three reflections: the need for the press to continue asserting and defending freedom of expression, the exercise of responsible media freedom, and the necessity to honor the primacy of life and to uphold the nobility of humanity.
“I wish to commend you for including in your discussions the topics of self-regulation and ethical reporting. As professional media practitioners you are expected to behave in a manner that is consistent with the values and norms of society,” he said referring to the ethical practice of media men.
Coloma also recalled the tragic Luneta hostage-taking incident last year saying lives could have been saved if media acted responsibly during their coverage of said crisis.
“In summary perhaps we can all affirm and declare this: To be free, to be responsible, and to be compassionate towards our fellow human beings, that is the commitment that we all share,” Coloma said in concluding his message.
Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma commended Friday the media practitioners who shared their experiences in a regional media conference organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City.
Media practitioners who shared their experiences in covering conflict areas such as North Korea, Indonesia, Egypt and other parts of the world showed their heroism in uncovering truth and supporting democracy, Coloma said.
“You are modern day heroes in the covering of conflict and difficult emergency or calamity situations, as you broadcast vivid images or deliver details to audiences worldwide you create awareness of reality as it unfolds across time zones every minutes of night or day,” Coloma said in his message during the one-day media conference.
As the media creates awareness it also builds consciousness, and eventually consensus, he said. When people find common ground they unite and take action, he added.
The press has been instrumental in the toppling of the Berlin Wall, the triumph of the Edsa People Power Revolution in 1986 and the continuing Arab Spring in the Middle East, Coloma said.
Coloma also shared three reflections: the need for the press to continue asserting and defending freedom of expression, the exercise of responsible media freedom, and the necessity to honor the primacy of life and to uphold the nobility of humanity.
“I wish to commend you for including in your discussions the topics of self-regulation and ethical reporting. As professional media practitioners you are expected to behave in a manner that is consistent with the values and norms of society,” he said referring to the ethical practice of media men.
Coloma also recalled the tragic Luneta hostage-taking incident last year saying lives could have been saved if media acted responsibly during their coverage of said crisis.
“In summary perhaps we can all affirm and declare this: To be free, to be responsible, and to be compassionate towards our fellow human beings, that is the commitment that we all share,” Coloma said in concluding his message.
The conference titled “Reporting on Violence and Emergencies: Regional Media Conference for Southeast and East Asia”, was organized by ICRC aimed at advancing the discussion on these topics and facilitate the sharing of best practices and recommendations.
The media of East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific have an important role to play in covering conflict, violence and the issues faced by vulnerable groups, according to ICRC.
The media of East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific have an important role to play in covering conflict, violence and the issues faced by vulnerable groups, according to ICRC.
ICRC brought together senior representatives of different media organizations from the Asia-Pacific region to share their experiences in covering conflict areas and emergency situations.
Media representatives from Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea Thailand, and the Philippines came up with what they called the Manila Declaration following the media conference. (PCOO)
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Palace says rice importation not needed this year despite damages from typhoons
Malacanang assured that there is no need to import more rice this year despite the damages brought by typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel" saying the overall country's food security inventory is still high, a Palace official said on Saturday.
In an interview over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the harvest of rice for the first and second quarters of this year was very good. She said the country has more than enough stock of the staple to meet the domestic requirements.
Valte confirmed that President Benigno S. Aquino III has approved the release of a P400-million fund intended for a palay assistance program to help farmers recover palay that were destroyed by the twin typhoons.
While the government only needed P203 million to buy the palay damaged by the typhoons, the President decided to release additional funds for the program. The Department of Agriculture (DA) will collaborate with institutions and companies for the financial assistance of concerned farmers.
"Iyong po P203 million will be used for this year. The rest will be saved for next year because we are also anticipating typhoons.. So, magtatabi po tayo para doon," Valte said.
Reports have estimated the value of loss to the agriculture sector due to typhoon Pedring and Quiel at P12 billion, of which palay accounted for the bulk of the damage at 760,207 metric tons (MT) worth P11 billion.
Valte also assured the government's relief efforts for the typhoon victims continue. Aside from allocating funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in areas devastated by the typhoons, Valte said the government started crafting strategies to prevent massive floodings in the future.
"Ngayon po kasi ang nagiging concern na is how to avert massive flooding from happening again. Sio Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson has been actively coordinating with the Local Government Units (LGUs)," Valte said.
Media representatives from Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea Thailand, and the Philippines came up with what they called the Manila Declaration following the media conference. (PCOO)
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Palace says rice importation not needed this year despite damages from typhoons
Malacanang assured that there is no need to import more rice this year despite the damages brought by typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel" saying the overall country's food security inventory is still high, a Palace official said on Saturday.
In an interview over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the harvest of rice for the first and second quarters of this year was very good. She said the country has more than enough stock of the staple to meet the domestic requirements.
Valte confirmed that President Benigno S. Aquino III has approved the release of a P400-million fund intended for a palay assistance program to help farmers recover palay that were destroyed by the twin typhoons.
While the government only needed P203 million to buy the palay damaged by the typhoons, the President decided to release additional funds for the program. The Department of Agriculture (DA) will collaborate with institutions and companies for the financial assistance of concerned farmers.
"Iyong po P203 million will be used for this year. The rest will be saved for next year because we are also anticipating typhoons.. So, magtatabi po tayo para doon," Valte said.
Reports have estimated the value of loss to the agriculture sector due to typhoon Pedring and Quiel at P12 billion, of which palay accounted for the bulk of the damage at 760,207 metric tons (MT) worth P11 billion.
Valte also assured the government's relief efforts for the typhoon victims continue. Aside from allocating funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in areas devastated by the typhoons, Valte said the government started crafting strategies to prevent massive floodings in the future.
"Ngayon po kasi ang nagiging concern na is how to avert massive flooding from happening again. Sio Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson has been actively coordinating with the Local Government Units (LGUs)," Valte said.
Sec. Singson assured that the DPWH is ready to send dredging equipment to affected areas but he asked for the cooperation of the LGUs to ensure the maintenance of waterways. "Kasi may mga illegal na fishpen, at iyong pag-dismantle ng mga ganyan nasa ilalim iyan ng Local Government. So, we are doing our part as best as we can para naman mabawasan iyong panganib na magkaroon pa ng mga ganitong kalalang pagbaha," Valte said. (PCOO)
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Palace assures whistle-blowers protection to build strong case against the Arroyos
Malacanang made an assurance Saturday that it is willing to protect whistle blowers who will come up with new evidence against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo as the Aquino administration builds its cases against them.
“We have consistently said this in the past that we will extend assistance, we will evaluate the evidence on anybody who wants to come forward and to give evidence or testimony not just on cases against the Arroyos but on any wrongdoing that they know of,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
“Nakita na naman natin iyan, that this is one of the very few administrations that has extended help and protection to so-called whistleblowers,” she added.
Last week, President Benigno S. Aquino III told the officers and members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in a forum in Makati City that his administration will be filing charges for large-scale corruption against the former leader by November.
The details of the possible charges against Arroyo are still being finalized, President Aquino said.
Efforts to put closure on the unresolved corruption cases against the previous government will soon be bearing fruit with indictments against corrupt officials of the previous administration, the President said.
Malacanang also said that it respects the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman with regards to the handling of corruption charges to be filed against the Arroyos.
The Palace said that by not putting a definite time frame in prosecuting the former leader, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales only shows her independence from the executive branch. (PCOO)
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Palace assures whistle-blowers protection to build strong case against the Arroyos
Malacanang made an assurance Saturday that it is willing to protect whistle blowers who will come up with new evidence against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo as the Aquino administration builds its cases against them.
“We have consistently said this in the past that we will extend assistance, we will evaluate the evidence on anybody who wants to come forward and to give evidence or testimony not just on cases against the Arroyos but on any wrongdoing that they know of,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
“Nakita na naman natin iyan, that this is one of the very few administrations that has extended help and protection to so-called whistleblowers,” she added.
Last week, President Benigno S. Aquino III told the officers and members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in a forum in Makati City that his administration will be filing charges for large-scale corruption against the former leader by November.
The details of the possible charges against Arroyo are still being finalized, President Aquino said.
Efforts to put closure on the unresolved corruption cases against the previous government will soon be bearing fruit with indictments against corrupt officials of the previous administration, the President said.
Malacanang also said that it respects the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman with regards to the handling of corruption charges to be filed against the Arroyos.
The Palace said that by not putting a definite time frame in prosecuting the former leader, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales only shows her independence from the executive branch. (PCOO)
