[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’ Palaro Media Center for everyone – exec’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY STEPHEN LOUIE CHECA
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=”]
Saturday, April 29, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
SAN JOSE, Antique – A media coordinator for the 60th Palarong Pambansa clarified that the Media Center is “for everyone” in light of criticisms that it is discriminating journalists outside Manila.
A photograph shared on Twitter showed the door of the Media Center with a printed note that said “Manila-based media only” posted on it.
Tweeted by user Cebu News Headlines (@cebunewsheadlines), the photo had the description: “Very discriminating. Very unfair!”
Wilson Geronimo, the Media Center in charge, denied having a hand on the printed note.
“It was reported to me by a media colleague from Sun.Star Davao around 7:30 in the morning of April 27,” said Geronimo. “I quickly ordered its removal because the whole Media Center is for everyone.”
Geronimo told this reporter a Department of Education (DepEd) central office staffer posted the note “but will never tell who ordered it.”
But criticisms on the Media Center go beyond the note on its door.
Over radio programs and social media, some journalists complained about the lack of relevant records and timely information on the national multisport event that Antique is covering for the first time.
“Kon magkadto ka wala ka man makuha nga impormasyon didto sa Media Center,” said a female reporter for a regional newspaper (not Panay News) who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of getting blocked out.
She said she felt like the organizers have neglected the Media Center.
“I just tried my best to gather information on my own,” she said. “As a journalist, amo gid man na obra ko pero maayo tani kon makabulig-bulig man ang Media Center.”
Meanwhile an AM radio reporter-host from Iloilo City said he saw organizers distributing food only to Manila-based journalists.
“It was very hurting and unfair. Subong lang ko naka-experience sang amo sini,” said the reporter, who also requested anonymity.
“Makakaon man kami bisan wala sila ihatag, pero sa pagkabalo ko may ara gid ina budget para sa pagkaon sang taga-media,” the reporter added.
Geronimo admitted there was no budget for the food of the provincial press. He blamed the “lack of coordination between the DepEd and the Antique provincial government.”
“We saw the problem on the first day, and the provincial government tried its best to accommodate and provide for everyone in the Media Center in the next days,” he said.
Manila-based journalists were included in the budget because their organizations coordinated with the DepEd “months ago,” said Geronimo.
Provincial Information Officer (PIO) Eric Otayde clarified that he had nothing to do with what is going on at the Media Center.
Otayde said he resigned from his position in the Antique Palarong Pambansa Organizing Committee two months before the competitions started.
“My role as information officer was only recommendatory,” he said. “The governor (Rhodora Cadiao) issued a memorandum assigning somebody to handle the media affairs, including the (Media) Center.”
“I have no jurisdiction over the Media Center anymore. But since it is related to my functions as PIO, I ordered my staff to assist there,” he added. “But the task was taken from me … If only they listened to and did my recommendations, these problems would not have happened.”/PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
