Oro Press Freedom Week on
- Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2017/05/22/oro-press-freedom-week-543320
- Tuesday, May 23, 2017
- By Abigail Viguella
FORGING unity in the task to uphold democracy, Cagayan de Oro media outlets and organizations kicked start the 35th annual celebration of the national Press Freedom Week on Monday, May 22.
The week-long event is spearheaded originally by the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) but is also participated by other media organizations in the region.
Sharing the momentous event are the Misamis Oriental-Cagayan de Oro Association of Newspaper Publishers (MOCAP), Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas-Cagayan de oro and Misamis Oriental chapters (KBP-CDO & MisOr), the Philippine National Police Press Corps, the Regional Association of Government Communicators (RAGCOM), Media Health Advocates, and the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP).
"Ang atong tema 'Moving Forward for Responsible Journalist for a Change' kay ngano man, nakita man gud nato nga for so many years, kita nga mga taga media nagbikil ug nagpanagaway even outlet against outlet. So kung mahimo, we have to.. atong i-eradicate na and let us work together to be dedicated in this job. (Our theme is 'Moving Forward for Responsible Journalist for a Change' because we see that for so many years, we in the media have conflicts and fights even outlet against outlet. So if possible, we have to eradicate that and work together to be dedicated in this job)," said Phillip Ken Jaudian, overall chairman of the Press Freedom Week activities.
The COPC led on Monday morning’s motorcade around the city, occasionally dropping by to make courtesy calls on some key government offices like the Provincial Capitol, the City Hall, and the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Camp Alagar.
On Tuesday, May 23, about a hundred COPC members are expected to gather for a 5 p.m. mass at the Press Freedom Monument off the Provincial Capitol Grounds.
Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano said that he is in full support of the media practice and that all the privileges and benefits due them “must be given unto them especially their freedom of speech.”
“But every member of the media, whether in newspapers, radio, television and social media, should act in conformity to law and that they should be responsible and accountable of all their actions like we all should be,” Emano added.
To achieve the main thrust of the celebration, COPC will conduct activities that will complement the celebration and its theme. Some of these include a lecture on Law on Libel by provincial legal adviser, Lawyer Gil Banaag at the COPC on the first day.
The lecture aims to educate local media more about the basis and foundations of libel offenses in an effort to put more quality on local reporting.
"Well, kanang ingon lagi ni President Duterte na he does not believe in our press freedom, but I would just like to inform you that our country is a democratic country and the freedom of the press is very much practiced. Well, I respect his opinion but that will also not curtail us from being vigilant especially in the field of information," Jaudian said.
The celebration of the Press Freedom Week will have other activities such as a blood-letting mission on Wednesday at the COPC board room. There will also be a two-day inclusive media sports fest at Barangay 24 covered court on Thursday and Friday. The culmination will be held at the Grand City hotel on Saturday, May 27.