ONE of the articles embedded in the Broadcast Code of the Philippines is Article 9 entitled Public Complaints and Grievances. This inspired me to reflect everyday and how the citizens benefit from this article. I have come with three main points - this enables the state to be democratic; this supports the responsibility of the mass media; and this causes immediate response.
This enables the practice of democracy. This clearly manifests Article III Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which states, “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of.” Through media, the Filipinos can exercise their right. This promotes unity and bears responsibility to different angles of audiences. Everyone can watch television, listen to radio, read newspaper, explore internet news, and the like. This will elicit a response to any audience, thus allows democracy to be well observed and practiced.
This upholds the responsibility of mass media. Through media, there is transparency not only to the private institutions, but mainly between the government itself and its citizens. The importance of responsiveness and transparency of the government to its people is already assumed. This is in respect with the Article III Section 7 and Article II Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
Article III Section 7 states, “The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.”
If the complaints and grievances subject the government, the latter will be able to respond right away through media.
Article II Section 1 states, “The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.”
With that, the government responds to the addressed complaints and grievances made possible by the media in respect with the observance of Article 9 of the Broadcast Code of the Philippines. This may be through interviews, press briefings, and the like.
This causes immediate response. There are cases or situations that if not aired through mass media, there will be no immediate action done.
The subjects of complaints sometimes needed to be called out through mass media to put effort on having actions. One example is shown in a special report entitled Failon Ngayon: Adverse Effects of Mining on the Environment by Failon Ngayon, a TV News Magazine.
There were citizens rallying to call the attention of the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) to have an immediate response against the mining companies that illegally operate. With the same show, it was shown that the DENR orders the companies to stop their operations immediately as it has negatively affected the residents and their livelihood.
It is every day that we, the citizens, benefit from this article. This is clearly manifested every day which may be subtly ignored because the audience are not aware of the existing principles being observed by the broadcast or media practitioners every day.
This emphasizes the importance of informing the audience of the codes or principles. Today, the Philippine media is tainted with different allegations, but the audience are not aware of the grounds behind what are being aired. They are not fully aware that they benefit the most with the practice of media.
With the observance of the Broadcast Code of the Philippines, the media will be able to practice its responsibility and allow the breathing within the state as this enables the state to be democratic, supports the responsibility of the mass media; and causes immediate response. (Cameelle Joy L. Suarez, AdDU AB Communication)