PGMA cites vital role media play in RP

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited today the vital role media play in Philippine society and called on media players to help disseminate accurate information on her administration’s various programs to improve the lives of the Filipinos.

"The role of media is so important, not only for news but also for influencing minds and actions (of people)," the President said during a live interview with ANC’s Dateline Philippines over ABS-CBN Channel 2 at noon today.

The President visited the ABS-CBN’s headquarters in Quezon City where she was given a guided tour of the electronic media giant’s sprawling compound.

Accompanied by ABS-CBN officials led by its Board chairman Eugenio Lopez III, president Luis Alejandro, and executive vice president Charo Santos-Concio, President Arroyo was given a tour of the television and radio newsrooms.

The company’s news executives, senior anchorpersons and radio commentators took advantage of the rare opportunity and interviewed the Chief Executive at will.

"Media is such an important part of our Philippine society (because) you are the source of news and information," she said.

The President also appealed to other media practitioners and entities to help her bring information on her government’s various plans, programs and policies to the people.

She pointed out that the people seem indifferent to her call to conserve energy and fuel because they "did not know" about the "severity" of the crisis the country could face if they do not help in the conservation effort.

"Just because we don’t have to line up at gasoline stations to fill our (vehicles’ fuel) tanks . . . doesn’t mean we have no problem," the President said during an interview by dzMM’s anchors Ariel Ureta and Winnie Cordero.

"That is why I am asking everyone of you (in media) to help me disseminate the importance of conserving energy," she stressed.

President Arroyo also cited the important role broadcast media play in nation building by positively influencing the views and actions of its listeners and viewers, particularly the youth.

Noting that half of the country’s population is composed of 20-year olds and below, the President, in an interview with China Heart and Laila over WRR 101.9 and Jaja Bolivar of Studio 23’s "Wazz Up Wazz Up," said the broadcast industry, in particular, could greatly help in disseminating information among the youth.

The said programs are youth-oriented programs aired by ABS-CBN.

The President also told her interviewers the government is continuously exploring opportunities to generate jobs, especially for young graduates.

She cited the call center or "outsourcing industry" which currently employs 70,000 young people while thousands more are being hired by similar firms across the country.

Months before the opening of the classes this month, she said she instructed the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to use its regulatory powers to discourage educational institutions from unnecessarily increasing their tuition fees.

Reference: http://www.gov.ph/news/default.asp?i=9889
Posted on May 4, 2006