TANJAY CITY, Negros Oriental  (PIA) – The 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army have partnered with the local media to debunk misinformation on the government’s peace initiatives and promote the significant gains of the government’s peace initiatives here. 

Under this partnership, the club named “Malinawon Media Club” was formed to help counter the negative propaganda pushed by communist-terrorist-groups (CTGs) in Negros Oriental.

“Malinawon” is the Cebuano word for peaceful.

“Naisip ‘to na i-organize para coordinated tayo. Wala naman tayong ibang hangarin kundi katahimikan ng ating probinsiya. (We thought of organizing a media club to help us in our aim to achieve peace in our province),” said Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, commanderof the 302nd Infantry Brigade. 

Escanillas said the media play a key role in ensuring that the correct information about government programs and projects are disseminated to the public. 

“We should be able to shape the opinions, the sentiments of the constituents in favor of the government so we can help in the province’s development. The media’s role to propagate accurate information about government programs to avoid deceiving our constituents is very critical,” Escanillas explained.

He also assured the media that officers of the Philippine Army will be available for interviews on security updates, encounters with communist terrorist groups, surrender of rebels, and community engagements. 

Meanwhile, Malinawon Media Club president Mike Ramo of dyMD Energy FM said he is willing to help the Philippine Army in reporting the significant achievements in the peace efforts in Negros Oriental.

“We will just do our best. Thank you for the trust,” Ramo said.

Aside from providing a centralized platform in the information dissemination, the media club will also organize trainings to capacitate local media on peace reporting. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)