BCBC helps fellow journos amid pandemic

THE Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club Incorporated (BCBC) has been at the forefront in helping members badly hit by the worldwide pandemic.

BCBC is grateful for the aid in cash and in kind given by donors and supporters in the community which has enabled the media club to help the men and women in the frontlines delivering the news in this time when the truth has to be told.

BCBC partner newspapers, television stations, cable companies as well as radio stations have been working to bring the city the latest news, all day, every day, in these times where the need for information is great.

Cash sponsorships have totaled P239,000 on the process of being distributed as a first wave of cash aid and to bankroll an insurance for members in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross.

BCBC members stands close to 300 comprising of journalists in television, radio and print, who have not wavered to the call to serve the public despite the threat of infection.

Cash donors have responded to the call of the BCBC to give aid for members as well as prepare for the urgent emergency needs each may face in this time of crisis, establishing an emergency fund on standby for members to access in case Covid-19 befalls.

Benguet caretaker Eric Go Yap of ACT CIS led the group of donors with telecommunication giant Smart, Mountain Province representative Maximo Dalog Jr., Baguio Water District, Department of Agriculture, ACT CIS Party-list Representative Nina Taduran and the Baguio Entrepreneurs Credit Cooperative, Erickson Felipe and Brandy Abeya.

Donations in kind which comprise of weekly food packs and care kits distributed to members since start of the Luzon wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was led by Baguio Representative Mark Go, Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Baguio City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Peña, Peter and Jeff Ng of Hotel Supreme and Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Baguio-Benguet Chapter, Assistant Secretary Marie Rafael of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Cordillera, Agot Balanoy of the League of Associations in La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post (LTVTP) Inc., BARP Foundation, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, the Baguio City Health Office, the Baguio City hall Public Information Office, Bayanihan Cordillera, Dean Cuanso of WatWat World, The Baguio Benguet Electric Cooperative, Peter Go of the Lions Club International, former Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Ryan Mangusan, La Trinidad Councilor Nestor Fongwan Jr., Narda’s Weaving, John Height and Team Lakay and City General Services Office.

Aid has been given to colleagues most in need which the media club has serviced for close to two months in terms of cash, food and personal protective equipment.

Each week, the BCBC distributes food packs to members and non-members comprised to rice and vegetables dividing whatever contributions to the general membership in a bid to augment personal needs of each member in the wake of the pandemic.

BCBC is the longest running media organization in Baguio City and the Cordillera region, bringing together members of the tri media both to improve the profession and help in nation building through responsible journalism.

Since its inception over 60 years ago, the BCBC has been a partner of the city and the region in delivering the news and information. (PR)