ILOILO City - Thirty-five quad-media, including several partner agencies, in Western Visayas were awarded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI as the 2022 Most Supportive Media and Agency Partners.

Regional Director lawyer Carmelo N. Nochete, during the awarding night on March 30, expressed his appreciation on how the media have been helping the Department in the program and project implementation.

He also emphasized that DSWD recognized the value of their reporting and advocacies.

“We give premium to your work of helping us in transforming the lives of the vulnerable, disadvantaged, and poor. In our country, it is established that freedom of the press is crucial and so inextricably woven into the right to free speech and free expression. We know how you have sacrificed your lives along the line of your work. Your passion to serve the people is admirable. And that passion is seen in the results that we see—as we circle in our beneficiaries who are aware of our programs, knowledgeable of their rights, and have access to services of the government,” he said.

Salamat guid sa inyo nga suporta,” he added.

Nochete also highlighted that “we cannot both be free and ignorant at the same time for it is only when the people have unbridled access to information and the press that they will be capable of rendering enlightened judgments. I may not always agree with what you say but I always respect your right to say what you want to say.”

He further lauded the awardees’ contribution to the enrichment and empowerment of the - people, either beneficiary of DSWD or even the non-beneficiaries.

“Mabuhay ang freedom of the press,” he added.

The Daily Guardian, and News Express while the Most Supportive Media for Television is GMA Regional TV– One Western Visayas.

For individual category awards, the Most Supportive Media Partner in Online Platform are Annabel C. Petinglay of PNA- Antique, Jun N. Aguirre of Boracay Island News Network, Lilibeth A. French of Iloilo Infocen, Marie Katherine M. Villalon - Blogger, Iloilo Updates and Ted Aldwin Ong – Blogger, People’s Domain.

The Most Supportive Media Partner for Print are Jennifer P. Rendon of The Daily Guardian and Tara Katherine L. Yap of Manila Bulletin while the awardees for Most Supportive Media Partner in Television are Evelyn Josue of IBC TV-12 and Christine Lunasco of ichannel Multi Media Production.

The Most Supportive Media Partner in Broadcast are Elena C. Pabiona of Radyo Pilipinas, Joel P. Franco of RMN-Iloilo, Merianne Grace Ereñeta of Radyo Pilipinas, and Lolito Sornito Jr. of Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.

Special recognitions were also given to Dr. Ma. Mercedes Monsale of CHED-6, Harren Christopher Fegarido of PhilHealth-6, Lilibeth French of PIA-Iloilo Infocen, and Atty. May Rago Castillo as judges in the 2022 Salaysay ng Buhay ng Pamilyang Pantawid, wherein the region's entry for the SA MATA ng Batang 4Ps category was declared naational champion and another entry for the Salaysay ni Inay category was adjudged first runner up.  (JBG/DSWD6/laf/PIA6-Iloilo)