President Marcos reaffirms commitment to media safety, press freedom

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. acknowledged the risks faced by journalists in the country and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting media workers.

Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Board of Trustees and Standards Authority on Wednesday, March 18, Marcos underscored the crucial role of broadcast media in upholding truth, responsible journalism, and public service.

"Bilang lingkod-bayan na halos araw-araw na humaharap sa media, nauunawaan ko ang bigat ng inyong trabaho," Marcos said.

"Hindi madaling magtanong, mag-ulat, at maglahad ng katotohanan—lalo na kung may panganib na kaakibat ito," Marcos added.

"And that is why this Administration has made it clear that the safety and welfare of our journalists must be protected at all times," the President further said.

He also assured that the government will work to ensure justice for victims of attacks against journalists and their families.

Marcos called on media organizations to help address the spread of misinformation and disinformation, particularly on social media platforms.

“Hinihikayat ko rin ang mga grupo ng media na tulungan ang ating mga kababayan upang alamin at tukuyin ang totoo at kung ano ang fake news," he said.

The President highlighted the importance of transparency initiatives, including government portals and the use of modern technologies such as satellites and drones to monitor public projects.

“Kapag malaya ang pamamahayag at madaling makakuha ng tamang impormasyon, mas nagiging bukas ang pamahalaan," Marcos said.

"With the crises and the difficulties and the shocks that the world is providing not only the Philippines but the entire globe, it is more essential than ever that we combat fake news and disinformation," Marcos added.

He also urged KBP’s newly elected leaders to continue advancing innovation in broadcasting in coordination with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), to ensure fair and competitive industry standards.

“Please continue to uphold the values that have guided you for more than five decades: the values of independence, responsibility, innovation, and, of course, service to our people,” he said.

Marcos emphasized that strong cooperation between the government and the media is essential to strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring a safer environment for journalists.

-Paraluman News