Help gov’t. inform public, PIA director asks journalists

AN official of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) yesterday urged the media to help the agency in disseminating government programs up to the grassroots level.

PIA Director General Harold E. Clavite said that although they are with the government agency, they are not doing political communications, but to inform the people about government programs.

Speaking during the quarterly meeting of the Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC), Clavite said they want good government-media relations through open communications, honest desire for information, and giving of benefits of the doubts to each other.

He was appointed as PIA director general by President Duterte last Aug. 31 and he spent the last few weeks dissecting the “internal organs” of PIA and understanding the processes, the people and how it works.

“I’m happy to know that the PIA in Cebu has established a good relation with local media, CCPC in particular. And I also know that there are some gaps somewhere and I am willing to sit down with you and discuss about that gaps,” Clavite said.

Partnership

Clavite said he wanted to explore how the PIA can work with the media in Cebu.

On the other hand, Clavite said press freedom, which the Cebu media celebrated for the past 22 years, “is a gift” to this nation, but at the same time that gift comes with responsibility and challenge to all those who are with the press.”

“The challenge that we will make use of this freedom to inform, to inspire, to move people to do what is right, and more so what is most humane,” Clavite said.

“Three decades after the restoration of this (press) freedom, how have we use this freedom to inspire our nation and to make a more proactive role in nation-building? Have we used this freedom to open their eyes on many realities in this world and that they ought to do something about them?” Clavite said.

He said he knew that Cebu media is doing its job well because he could see all the hard work of the PIA’s friends in the media to bring news to the people.

Resolution

The CCPC has passed Resolution No. 1, series of 2016. requesting local government units (LGUs) to help fulfill the intent of Freedom of Information (FOI) as initially provided by Executive Order 2, series 2016.

The EO 2 was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last July 23, 2016, and as proposed in an FOI law, to be enacted by Congress.

The executive order provides, among others, for every Filipino to have “access to information, official records, public records and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions.

The resolution stated that EO 2 primarily covers all government offices under the executive branch, but encourages LGUs “to observe and be guided” by the order.

In this connection, CCPC Resolution 1 requested LGUs in the Province and cities of Cebu to help promote the intent of the President’s executive order towards and open and transparent governance.

On the motion of Sun.Star Superbalita editor-in-chief Michelle P. So, duly seconded by Atty. Jonathan Capanas, the resolution was approved.

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