MANILA, Philippines – WALANG lugar sa makabagong lipunan ang ‘fake news”.
Ito ang binigyang diin ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., matapos pangunahan ang 14th edition ng International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) sa Pasay City.
Sa kanyang naging talumpati, binanggit ng Pangulo ang Freedom of Information program “has leveraged available technology and digital platforms to be of greater service to our people.”
“Of course, we also have to highlight that the FOI Program has greatly advanced the campaign against misinformation and disinformation in the country. A problem that we in the Philippines also suffer from as I guess all of us do around the world,” ayon sa Pangulo.
“Like everyone here, we too recognize as a matter of principle that fake news should have no place in modern society,” dagdag na wika nito.
Kaya nga, sinabi ng Pangulo na magsasagawa ang kanyang administrasyon ng media at information literacy campaign na magiging digital, multi-media, at youth-oriented.
Tinuran pa niya na ang kanyang liderato ay palaging magpo-promote ng freedom of information (FOI) sa lipunan.
“Our people can be assured of the continued implementation of the FOI Program in the Executive Branch, through the Presidential Communications Office,” anito.
“At this juncture, I reiterate our call not only to the executive branch, but to all branches of government, to genuinely uphold and give effect to the people’s freedom of information in the course of our day-to-day operations, with good faith and with openness,” ayon pa rin sa Punong Ehekutibo.
Noong siya ay tumatakbo pa lamang bilang Pangulo ng bansa, sinabi ni Marcos na biktima siya ng “fake news” sa social media.
Samantala, sinabi ng Punong Ehekutibo na gamit ang “whole-of- nation approach” , pagsusumikapan ng pamahalaan na mapanatili ang gobyerno na “that is not only effective and efficient, but also transparent and accountable to our people.”
“The Philippines stands in solidarity with the ICIC and the entire international community in this advocacy. As a nation with a robust democracy, we reaffirm our commitment to champion this basic human right. It remains indelibly etched in our fundamental law,” dagdag na wika pa ng Punong Ehekutibo.
“We value its potency to empower our people to make informed decisions to participate fully in the democratic process, and hold their representatives accountable without fear or apprehension,” aniya pa rin.
Ang ICIC ay isang global network na nag-uugnay sa mga commissioner, ombudsman, at iba pang bodies na nangangasiwa sa implementasyon ng access sa public information legislation at polisiya.
Ang mga miyembro ng body ay nakatuon para sa proteksyon at promosyon ng “right to access public information” bilang fundamental pillar to the enjoyment of social and economic freedoms.”
Sinabi naman ni Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil na bilang host ngayong taon ay isang testamento ito na “the Philippines recognizes access to information as a fundamental right that must be upheld.”
Ang pagho-host ng 14th Edition ng ICIC ay ipinagkaloob sa PCO sa pamamagitan ng Freedom of Information Management Program noong June 2022 sa Puebla, Mexico habang isinasagawa ang preceding edition ng komperensiya.
Ang Pilipinas ang unang Southeast Asian member ng network. Kris Jose
