Media welfare Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Kris Ablan discusses the Freedom of Information order of President Rodrigo Duterte during the Press Freedom Caravan the PCOO and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security held at the National Press Club on Thursday. YUMMIE DINGDING

Continuing one of its main thrusts of having continued engagement with different media groups in the country, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) on Thursday held another caravan to “address issues and concerns” facing the Filipino media.

Held at the historic National Press Club of the Philippines, the PCOO and its attached agency, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), conducted an open forum with leaders of different Manila-based press groups to inform them of the administration’s programs and policies for the working media.

“The PCOO and PTFoMS aim to address all media issues and concerns. That’s why we regularly hold this press freedom caravan,” PTFoMS executive director and Undersecretary Joel Egco told the Daily Tribune.

Egco reiterated and discussed at length President Rodrigo Duterte’s commitment to ensure the protection and welfare of journalists.

Among the initiatives of the Chief Executive, Egco shared, is the creation the PTFoMS through Administrative Order 01.

The PTFoMS is mandated to conduct an inventory of all cases against media workers within its first 30 days.

He said the Duterte administration is also bent on promoting government transparency and accountability by issuing Executive Order 2, or the “Freedom of Information Order,” granting media workers and public access to information on transactions and operations of agencies under the Executive Branch.

“This is proof that the media is one of the President’s top priorities and that press freedom is alive and protected in the country,” Egco added.

The next stops of the press freedom caravan of PCOO and PTFoMS are Butuan City and Surigao province.