In a recent tweet of CNN Philippines, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque admitted that the coordination of the media when it comes to disseminating information is vital.
“We need better coordination, we need media as partners,” Roque said.
This is in line with the failure of the media to spread the information regarding the dam water being released.
Roque: We need better coordination, we need media as partners
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) November 16, 2020
However, he did not blame mainstream media to carry out this information. Moreover, he thought that informing the masses about it would be easier if done by the NDRRMC.
“Hindi ko naman sinisisi ang media pero regional NIA kasi ang naglabas. Baka mas madali kung NDRRMC ito,” he said.
Unfortunately, the mainstream media that he’s referring to was none other than ABS-CBN, which was recently shut down.
The Kapamilya network was the only one capable of reaching the region since it had a regional station in Cagayan Valley.
Roque says mainstream media did not carry the November 9 NIA advisory on dam water releases: Hindi ko naman sinisisi ang media pero regional NIA kasi ang naglabas. Baka mas madali kung NDRRMC ito
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) November 16, 2020
When Ulysses hit the Philippines, there were claims from Magat Dam authorities that they issued warnings and announcements on their social media pages.
However, the affected residents denied that they were properly informed about this.
6 legislators from Cagayan Valley at fault for lack of information dissemination
It may be recalled that 70 congressmen voted to deny a new franchise to ABS-CBN and among those were 6 legislators from Cagayan Valley.
Last November 14, the #CagayanNeedsHelp became trending on Twitter as netizens posted videos online of residents from Tuguegarao who desperately needed help.
As a result, netizens, celebrities, and other concerned groups called for an immediate and effective response from the government which also made the #NasaanAngPangulo return to Twitter’s trending topics. They also emphasized that Cagayan Valley’s residents could have prepared and possibly have spared lives if the largest and most comprehensive network in the region was still operational—the ABS-CBN TV Patrol Cagayan Valley.
True to the facts, the TV Patrol Cagayan Valley was the only source of news for its residents since it only has the range to reach the region.
Stepping up the game
Former PTV anchor Jules Guiang called out his former boss PCOO Martin Andanar regarding their claim that the government has the ‘widest reach’ of communications in the Philippines. In a series of tweets, he addressed the lack of communication from the government prior to the typhoon which left the residents of Cagayan and Isabela disarrayed.
He wrote, “Hey Sec. @martinandanar, you were saying that gov’t has the widest reach of comms in the Philippines. Look at Cagayan now. Communication is key right? Info from the ground wasn’t hyped until what, days after #UlyssesPH? Gulatan tayo lahat, na naman.”
Hey Sec. @martinandanar, you were saying that gov’t has the widest reach of comms in the Philippines. Look at Cagayan now. Communication is key right? Info from the ground wasn’t hyped until what, days after #UlyssesPH? Gulatan tayo lahat, na naman.
— Jules Guiang (@julesguiang) November 13, 2020
Guiang also mentioned that the PCOO has created a music video to be an intro for the coverage of Duterte’s aerial inspection in Bohol.
“Like if @pcoogov was able to produce a music video when Pres. @RRD__Davao & Sen. @SAPBongGo did an aerial inspection, bakit wala about this? Kasi reactive lang sa hashtags online? Sa pinag-uusapan?” he tweeted.
Like if @pcoogov was able to produce a music video when Pres. @RRD__Davao & Sen. @SAPBongGo did an aerial inspection, bakit wala about this? Kasi reactive lang sa hashtags online? Sa pinag-uusapan?
— Jules Guiang (@julesguiang) November 13, 2020
Meanwhile, the Philippine Information Agency did not escape Guiang’s call outs as he tweeted, “Okay, nag-uupdate na sila.”
Okay ayan nag-update na sila. pic.twitter.com/iAfRTRuu2P
— Jules Guiang (@julesguiang) November 13, 2020
This was a result of cries for media coverage as private and government networks failed to provide adequate media coverage.
Last Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte went to Tuguegarao to assess the situation.
As of this moment, the death toll in Cagayan Valley has reached 67 after typhoon Ulysses wrought its wrath on the region which was taken by surprise.
