The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has highlighted infrastructure projects under the Duterte administration that aim to give focus on news and information coming from regions in the country other than Metro Manila.
According to PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar, reporting in the Philippines is highly dominated by news focused on Metro Manila information, while relevant news from other provinces and regions is not highlighted. Thus, the need to support the operations of government media in provinces.
The infrastructure projects include the state-of-the-art Mindanao Media Hub in Davao City, which houses the regional arm of the People’s Television Network, Inc. (PTV), Philippine News Agency (PNA), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), APO Production Unit, Inc. (APO), Radyo Pilipinas, and the Presidential Broadcast Staff – Radio Television Malacañang (PBS-RTVM) there.
The PCOO said the same media facility will also be built in Mandaue City, Cebu, to be dubbed the Visayas Media Hub.
Andanar said that the initial budget of P200 million has been approved for the construction of the building. The allocation will be included in PCOO’s budget for 2022.
"When I sat as the PCOO Secretary, we really focused on reaching out to media outfits in the provinces. Because for the longest time the focus of our news is here in Metro Manila," he said in a recent interview in Bisaya.
“Dili lang Manila ang Pilipinas (The Philippines is not Metro Manila alone)," he stressed.
Malacañang said the promotion to deliver the information of the government to the people has resulted in a strengthened partnership with local media through the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).
“It has never been done before and now we are doing it because of the political will of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” he said.
He stressed that such news coming from the national government should also be taken in the context of how Filipinos residing outside Metro Manila will be affected. He said that localizing context should also be considered.
Andanar also noted that the anticipated construction of the Government Communications Academy in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon as one of the tangible results of the first National Information Convention held in Davao City last 2018.
He said that all these programs and initiatives form part of the government’s advocacy to empower local media.