Make positive impact on people’s lives, Duterte urges mass media
MANILA – Aside from upholding fairness and transparency, President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday urged media practitioners to also make a positive impact on people’s lives.
On the observance pre-recorded speech of Wor l d Pr ess Fr eedom aired over PTV-4. Day, Duterte Duterte emphasized vowed to protect press the importance of “making freedom, recognizing it a positive impact” as a “vital component” especially now that traditional and “indicator of media has progress” anywhere in changed in the digital the world. age.
“I join the Filipino “Cognizant of the people and international ever-changing communication community in the annual system these observance of the days, may the mass World Press Freedom media also uphold fairness Day. This year’s celebration and transparency affirms the Philippines’ while also making a commitment to positive impact on the protect press freedom as people’s lives,” he a public good and as an added. indispensable requirement In a separate statement, with vibrant democracy,” Duterte said the he said in a occasion serves as a reminder of “the vital role of a free and responsible press in the advancement of society.”
“In this digital age where information is created and shared rapidly, the work of both traditional and emerging media requires a stronger commitment in upholding truth and accuracy,” he said.
Duterte said the theme of the occasion this year, “Information as a Public Good", affirms the nature of news and information as a “public good that must be utilized effectively to achieve their intended benefits.”
He also stressed the importance of protecting the press “from all forms of threat and intimidation” so that they may fully serve the best interest of our people.
“Let us continue to use the power of communication for our collective efforts in nationbuilding and ensure the integrity and safety of the press. Together, let us nurture a better-informed citizenry and realize a brighter future for everyone,” he said.
In July 2016, Duterte signed Executive Order 2 on Freedom of Information (FOI) requiring disclosure of all government records involving public interest and upholds the constitutional right of people to information on matters of public concern.
He formed the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) through Administrative Order 1 in October 2016 to ensure the safety of media workers and address the distinction attached to the Philippines as one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists.
Duterte also signed Republic Act (RA) 11458 in September 2019 to expand the coverage of a law protecting journalists, including broadcast and online journalists, from revealing confidential sources.
May 3 was proclaimed World Press Freedom
Day by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1993 following a recommendation adopted at the 26th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) General Conference in 1991.
According to UNESCO, the occasion celebrates “the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.”