Pioneer school vs fake news

Local government units will be among the major beneficiaries in the planned school as information officers all the way to the national or the Executive branches of government will be the targeted students.

For the first time in recent memory, the government is investing heavily to stamp out deceptive information through the setting up of the Government Strategic Communications Academy that seeks to enhance the skills of government communication officials.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said the setting up of the innovative institution is part of the agency’s budget for next year worth P1.6 billion.

The Senate voted to swiftly approve PCOO’s proposed budget, which Andanar said will be used to further improve its services and provide more programs and projects.

The Palace aide said the setting up of the communications academy will be a “groundbreaking” project.

“Local government units will be among the major beneficiaries of the planned school as information officers all the way to the national or the Executive branches of government will be the targeted students.”

“For the first time in the history of Philippine governance, there will be an academy for communicators for the whole country,” he said.

Andanar said the facility will be built in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon and is targeted to open in the first quarter of 2021.

PCOO’s attached agency, Philippine Broadcasting Service, will also strengthen the operations of four of its state-owned radio stations through the budget. Proceeds from grants will also cover the rehabilitation of government radio stations across the country.

There will also be an upcoming launch of the Mindanao Media Hub for the regional counterparts of People’s Television, Radyo Pilipinas, News and Information Bureau, Philippine News Agency, Philippine Information Agency, National Printing Office, APO Production Unit, and other attached agencies in Davao City.

“We expect to launch the Mindanao Media Hub (in Davao City) by the first or second quarter of next year,” he said.

Andanar said another media hub is planned for the Visayas region once the facility in Davao is finished.

The PCOO chief noted that streamlining of government information bodies is also underway as part of the PCOO’s effort to provide a “strategic communications template.”

He said the creation of the Office of Global Media Affairs is one of the institutional initiatives made by his office to reach out to the international community.

Meanwhile, Andanar received assurance that the process of privatizing the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13) is being rushed.

IBC-13 president and chief executive officer Katherine de Castro said her office is still awaiting the opinion of the Procurement Board, but assured Andanar that they are exhausting all efforts to facilitate the privatization of the station in favor of the welfare of its employees.