CLARK FREEPORT -- Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President Vince Dizon described media practitioners in Pampanga as responsible and professional.

Dizon issued the statement during a Christmas party for Pampanga-based newsmen jointly hosted by the BCDA, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) on December 23 at the sports stadium of the New Clark City.

Media provides information to the people but its important role is to check the government, according to Dizon.

“We believe in that, but I think the Kapampangan media is different and distinct. Unlike some other outfits, sad to say, I think I can only say that the Kapampangan media has really shown great responsibility and professionalism throughout our term this past three years because the Pampanga media has been vigilant in ensuring that government does its job well, Dizon said.

“You’ve never, as far as I know, brought about misinformation that is completely false.”

He lamented the spread of fake news even in the main stream media.

“Ang daming fake news talaga. Yun ang hindi maganda eh. Yung criticisms okay pa yun wala pong problema yun, we welcome it pero kapag yung totally fake na tapos alam mo nang hindi totoo ay ipo-propagate mo pa sa tingin ko ay hindi na tama,” Dizon said.

(There are a lot of fake news. That is not good. Criticisms are acceptable, there is no problem with it, we welcome it, but if you knew already, that the news is totally fake, then you still propagate it, then that, for me, is not right.)

During the preparations of the Southeast Asian Games, a lot of fake news came out to discredit BCDA and the committee in charge of the sports event.

“Nakakalungkot pero nakita naman po natin na pag tama ang ginagawa lalabas at lalabas din ang totoo,” the BCDA chief added.

(It’s saddening but we see that, if what we did is right, then the truth will prevail.)

SEA Games Philippines has been hailed as the most successful and the best hosting ever in its history, he said.

“I’m very, very proud and we are all very, very proud that a lot of that success can be attributed to what he have done here in Clark.”

Volunteers and personnel of the CDC and BCDA worked hard to take care of the athletes who participated in the sports event, he added.