BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - The administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte fully supports strengthening of government media and  strong partnership  with private media practitioners towards ensuring a well – informed Filipino citizenry

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, in an interview over 95.1 Love Radio – Baguio on Monday, said centralized media hubs are being established in key areas in the country as a legacy of the President to the communication sector,

Just recently, the President gave the go signal for the P200 million budget for the construction of the Visayas Media Hub that will rise at the Department of Information and Communication Technology compound in Mandaue City, Cebu.

The PCOO inaugurated last year the Mindanao Media Hub   in Davao City. It launched earlier the Cordillera hub in Baguio City.

The regional media hubs strengthen government media as they serve as home base for PCOO offices. They are also open as workplace for private media practitioners.

Andanar said another legacy of Pres.  Duterte for the communication sector is the establishment of the Government Communication Academy that will serve as a training ground for  government information officers  from the barangay  level to the  national level. This  will respond to the need  to  enhance the skills of  public info officers and strengthen communication strategies of government offices.

“Natutuwa tayo na ang suporta ni Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte sa media ay 101 percent, ” the Secretary said.

The  soon to be constructed  PIA Cordillera Regional Office is another accomplishment of the administration.  

“For the longest time,  ang PIA po ay walang opisina na sarili sa Baguio City. Now, magkakaroon na ng sariling tanggapan ang Philippine Information Agency. Ito pong PIA ay katuwang ng mga media natin sa Baguio City at sa buong  Cordillera,” Andanar said.

On sharing news and information, Andanar said   the government accepts constructive criticisms and disregards those tainted by politics or just aimed at misinforming the public.

“We do not force people to believe the President, but at least they should truly see and appreciate the legacy programs and projects of the government,”  he added.

Andanar shared that under the administration of President Duterte, there are 1.6 million students who  benefited  from the Free Tuition Act, and  more than 29 roads and 5,950 bridges were  constructed under the Build, Build, Build program.

On the campaign against illegal drugs,  there are around 22,000 drug – cleared barangays, 1.2 million drug dependents rehabilitated and more than P59 billion worth of illegal drugs seized. Crime volume is  also down by 64 percent from July 2016  when the President assumed  office to  May 2021. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)