The Philippine government reaffirmed its commitment to promoting regional integration and cooperation with fellow Southeast Asian countries, along with promoting freedom of information and preserving press freedom, Communications Secretary Garafil said.

Garafil said this in her message during the 16th Conference of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) in Vietnam on Sept. 23.

In her message, delivered by Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director-General Joe Torres Jr., Garafil said the Philippines is firm in its commitment to working with ASEAN nations.

"The Philippines adheres to our responsibility to promote regional integration and cooperation among the members of ASEAN," she said.

"And with the help of media, we can attain our shared goal of addressing different challenges that we face right now by building bridges between our cultures and communities," she added.

The Palace official highlighted the role of media in shaping a well-informed populace better equipped to respond to economic, environmental, and societal challenges.

She reiterated that the PCO is committed to promoting and strengthening freedom of information while continuously forging partnerships with local and international stakeholders.

"The [PCO] is keen on intensifying the Freedom of Information program through its information dissemination platforms and mechanisms, which have made every effort to reach the Filipinos from the national level down to every local government unit to inform every Filipino of the right to information keeping as many, if not yet all on board, with the plans, targets, and actions that the government has laid out for the nation," Garafil said.

Garafil also stressed the need to preserve press freedom, citing media as a conduit for promoting accountability and transparency among public servants to ensure that the people's best interests remain on top.

"Preserving press freedom stands as a fundamental pillar of a thriving democracy, and any attempts to suppress it must be resolutely opposed," she said.

"Media is the cornerstone that connects the diverse nations of ASEAN, transforming information into knowledge that empowers our citizens and strengthens our collective resilience and responsiveness," she added.

The conference, with the theme, "Media: From Information to Knowledge for a Resilient and Responsive ASEAN," focused on ASEAN collaboration in information and communication orientations to create a mechanism for coping with fake news online.

The event likewise aimed to promote digital transformation in the press and communication sector, apply modern technologies to the sector, and exchange information across ASEAN and allied countries.