BAGUIO CITY- – Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar expressed gratitude to Baguio – based PCOO family, the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Baguio – Benguet for their continuing support in communicating COVID – 19 efforts being undertaken during this crisis as well as in fighting disinformation that does more harm than help the public during this trying time.
Andanar, accompanied by PCOO Assistant Secretaries Ana Marie Rafael and Ramon Cualoping and Undersecretary Joel Egco of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security had a short visit here Saturday to check on the situation, health, and safety of the PCOO family and the media practitioners in the region whose works are also affected by the COVID pandemic.
Andanar outlined that the PCOO came up with the daily “Laging Handa” and the Network Briefing programs to provide important COVID – related news and information, updates on relevant government programs and services. At the same time, it helps provide news/ source to private media companies whose operations were affected by the pandemic.
In support of efforts to inform more people about the COVID-19 and efforts being undertaken by government and other stakeholders, some private media partners have been airing the Laging Handa program such as the KBP-Baguio Benguet and other radio stations in the region.
Andanar also shared that he talked with House of Representative Speaker Allan Cayetano and Senator Bong Go on the possibility of using government agencys’ advertising funds so that the government can also place advertisement of government programs and services with private media partners.
Andanar in their courtesy call to Mayor Benjamin Magalong, also expressed gratitude for the city government’s support to PCOO and the private media practitioners in Baguio.
The PCOO officials also congratulated Magalong for the city government’s COVID – 19 infection control and prevention measures especially its Contact Tracing system that is being considered as a model for LGUs in the country.
Magalong showed the city’s Contact Tracing Operation Center and explained the step by step contact tracing being implemented in the city from data/information generation to system and analytical application.
Andanar committed PCOO to document a special feature of the Baguio’s contact tracing and other Covid 19 related efforts that can be replicated by other LGUs in the fight against the virus. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
