Sec Andanar highlights press freedom during Meet and Greet with the Media in Bulacan
CITY OF MALOLOS – Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin M. Andanar expressed how the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte prioritizes press freedom during the “Meet and Greet with the Media” held at the VIP Lounge of the Provincial Government of Bulacan in this city today.
“Sa dinami-rami ng mga batas na maaaring pirmahan ng ating Pangulo, hindi man niya inunang pirmahan dahil nauna ang E.O. No. 1 na Reengineering the Office of the President, pinangalawa niya ang Freedom of Information dahil nakasulat sa ating konstitusyon ang Right for Information,” the PCCO secretary said.
He also enumerated the policies formulated by his office to protect the media men including Administrative Order No. 1, s. 2016 or the “Creating the Presidential Task Force on Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of the Members of the Media” and the Government-Media Bridge Policy, which includes media exchange program wherein selected media practitioners will be given an opportunity to study and see for themselves the best practices of media in other countries.
“Talagang inuuna ng ating Presidente ang ating mga media dahil mahal niya ang media. Pinapahalagahan niya ang ating kalayaang magsulat, freedom of information and freedom of the press. And I also believe that media is one of the most important sectors in nation building,” Andanar added.
In return, Carmela Reyes-Estrope, provincial correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, said that Andanar is the only PCOO sec to go down to the grassroots level to get to know and hear the side of the local media practitioners.
Meanwhile, before heading to the Meet and Greet, Sec. Andanar did a courtesy call to Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado who welcomed him and thanked him for visiting the Bulacan-based media practitioners who are considered partners of the government in information dissemination.
“Panahon na ngayon upang ang atin namang mga mamamahayag ang hatiran natin ng mga balita upang ipaalam sa kanila na pinapahalagahan sila ng ating pamahalaan,” the governor said.
Also present in the Meet and Greet with the Media were Philippine Information Agency Regional Director William Beltran, Provincial Information Officer Maricel S. Cruz and Provincial Administrator Eugenio Payongayong.