Foreign press hail ‘modern’ Clark media center

Filipino hospitality greets journalist Nguyen Tuan Anh and the rest of Vietnam Television's SEA Games crew at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Monday. (Facebook)

Foreign journalists are pleased with how the ASEAN Convention Center, the main press and international broadcast center (IBC), inside the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga was prepared for their use.

Bernama, the national news agency of Malaysia, reported that desktop computers are working just fine and there are even massage chairs, dining hall and a lounge for media use.

Nguyen Tuan Anh from Vietnam Television (VTV), covering his first SEA Games, said he is impressed with the arrangements despite reports that the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) had to rush to get things ready before the opening ceremony this Saturday.

“I just arrived in Clark from Hanoi on Monday evening and I’m very surprised with the media center which is very modern, with delicious food provided,” the Vietnamese journalist said, despite the media center being “quite hot and competition venues quite far from the IBC.”

Tuan Anh said 35 TVT crew members will be covering in Metro Manila, Clark and Subic in Olongapo. They are looking at Vietnam athletes bringing home between 60 to 70 gold medals, especially from men’s and women’s football.

Jakarta Post journalist Rahmat Mega Putra, who arrived in Clark on Monday, is likewise satisfied with facilities at the media center.

“At the moment, accommodation is very good. Only thing is it’s a long journey to competition venues and the traffic here is like what you will find in Jakarta,” he said. (Bernama)