The media has a major role in helping the government prepare the public to cope with possible conflict.
Senator Robin Padilla stressed this after chairing a consultative meeting on the role of media in disseminating public information during times of conflict.
Padilla, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, also disclosed plans to chair a similar meeting in the near future to define the role of social media during times of conflict.
“Kami ang kakampi ninyo para sa taumbayan kasi ‘yan ang kailangan eh.”
“Kaya itong pagpupulong na ito napakagandang message nito, na nasa likod ng taumbayan ang media. Siyempre ang taumbayan, ang gobyerno nasa likod ninyo. Aasahan namin inform nyo kami kung anong hakbang ninyo at ang pinakamaganda, kami ang kakampi ninyo para sa taumbayan kasi ‘yan ang kailangan eh,” the legislator said at the hearing attended by representatives of government agencies and government and private media outlets.
“Maging kalamidad o maging giyera man ‘yan, kailangan nakatayo ang gobyerno para malakas ang loob ng ating taumbayan.”
“Ang taumbayan natin kahit anong sabihin natin handa ‘yan magtiis at makipaglaban pero in the end kailangan ng leader niyan at kailangan ang gobyerno sa kahit anong panahon, maramdaman ng tao na nandiyan ang gobyerno maging kalamidad o maging giyera man ‘yan, kailangan nakatayo ang gobyerno para malakas ang loob ng ating taumbayan,” the lawmaker added.
The senator asked the media to make sure its messaging in times of conflict will be geared toward peace.
“Kapayapaan pa rin. Kasi wala tayong makukuha sa conflict. Di naman siguro mahirap yan gawin na kahit tayo sinasabi natin ready kami, pero nandoon pa rin lagi na ang Pilipino mahal natin ang kapayapaan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Padilla said he plans to hold another meeting, this time with representatives from social media outlets, after resource persons cited the need to stop some social media personalities from disseminating unverified or exaggerated information – as well as to prepare against new threats like deepfakes.
“Sa susunod pupulungin namin ang social media,” he said.
