President Marcos' communications office will designate fact-checkers in Philippine state media to fight the spread of fake news in the country.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Monday, September 9, said it will intensify its efforts in fighting disinformation and fake news under the new leadership of its chief, Cesar Chavez.
Chavez made such an assurance during the budget hearing at the House of Representatives, where he was asked about the spread of disinformation in the country.
According to Chavez, he is now planning to issue a memorandum circular to designate a "fact-checking officer" in all PCO-affiliated agencies.
“Immediately after I took my oath as Acting Secretary of PCO, I met the Malacañang Press Corps and informed them [about] our initiative," he said.
Fact-checkers will be coming from the country's state media, which are: PTV-4, Philippine Information Agency, Radyo Pilipinas-Bureau of Broadcast Services, the Philippine News Agency, the IBC-13, and the PCO Proper.
"A fact check officer or anti-fake news officer will help us that we cannot be an instrument or a purveyor of fake news," he said.
Chavez stressed the need for all state media to be vigilant and take the lead in combating fake news.
"Therefore, institutionally, there is going to be fact-check officer in every Radyo Pilipinas, in every Philippine News Agency, in every Philippine Information Agency and state media and PCO," he said.