Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed support for the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO)’s plan to create the Visayas Media Hub (VMH). He emphasized the crucial role of government to continue improving access to information across the country especially outside Metro Manila.
Go also stressed the importance of empowering communities by enabling public access to vital information towards nation-building.
Initiated by PCOO and its attached Government-Owned and/or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), People’s Television Network Inc. (PTV), the Visayas Media Hub is set to be established in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City in Cebu this year.
“Congratulations po sa PCOO dahil masisimulan na ang pagtatayo ng Visayas Media Hub. Kapag naitayo ito, mapapabilis na ang pagbibigay ng impormasyon na kailangan ng publiko lalo na ng mga kapwa nating Bisaya,” Go stressed.
“Mula TV, print, radio, online, sisiguraduhin nating maiparating ng gobyerno ang tamang impormasyon at makabuluhang balita sa mga komunidad na kailangan upang maging mas ligtas at maginhawa ang buhay ng mga Pilipino tulad ng ipinangako ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte,” he added.
Go was instrumental in pushing for the allocation of PhP300 million in the 2022 national budget for the construction of the state-of-the-art media facility that will boost the capacity of government media in Visayas. Another PhP300 million budget was included in the PCOO's 2022 budget for the various equipment needed for the operations of the VMH.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology and the PCOO will enter into usufruct agreement for the use of the former's Subangdaku lot in Mandaue City. Both agencies are also working closely for the detailed architectural and engineering design of the VMH.
Similar to the success of the Mindanao Media Hub in Davao City, the VMH will be a world-class communications facility of the government in Cebu that will cater as the main broadcast hub of Regions VI, VII and VIII. The VMH will be the second media hub of the PCOO outside Metro Manila after the MMH conducted its pilot live broadcast in December 2020.
Meanwhile, PCOO Secretary Andanar thanked legislators for their support and Go’s instrumental role in the provision of the budget for the VMH. He also assured the public transparency and accountability in the construction of the world-class facility.
Earlier, Go mentioned the public's increased demand for more access to information during these trying times. He is optimistic that, like the MMH, the VMH will significantly improve the quality of government communication and information services in the Visayas and the rest of the country.
Go also previously shared President Rodrigo Duterte’s hopes that the PTV shall grow into the size and standard similar to the British Broadcasting Corporation with a transformational impact on the media sector towards building a more informed citizenry.
“Ika nga mala-BBC na nga po ito. Ito ang pinangarap ng ating Pangulo na magkaroon din dito sa ating bansa, ala-BBC na programa. Kumpleto, malakas ang signal, maganda pati ang inyong pasilidad,” he earlier said during MMH’s inaugural broadcast.
In the end, Go emphasized that his efforts to support and protect the welfare of communities in the Visayas will always be a priority.
“Mga kababayan, mga kapatid kong Bisaya, alam po namin na mahirap ang sitwasyon ninyo ngayon. Mahirap maghanapbuhay, mahirap ang negosyo, marami ang mawalan ng trabaho... talagang napakahirap ng buhay sa panahong ito dahil sa pandemyang Covid-19,” Go earlier said.
“Ganon pa man, patuloy lang tayong magtulungan. Hindi kami titigil ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte sa pagseserbisyo sa inyo. Hindi namin kayo pababayaan, lalo na sa panahon ng krisis,” he reassured. (PR)