Palace creates province group to deal with fake news

A group that will supposedly suppress fake news had been launched by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) in Bohol province last Friday, June 22.

The Provincial Communications Officers Network (PCONet) will have direct access to the Office of the President through PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar who launched the group together with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) regional office.

“When we disseminate real information, we are actually doing service to society and to the next generation. This is important for all of us in nation building,” Andanar said.

Andanar said the country’s economic growth and other good news about the Philippines had been offset by what he said was “fake news.”

“Private media and the information officers are also crucial to address fake news, The Philippine News Agency (PIA) will take the lead in educating the public about the dangers of fake news,” Andanar said.

PIA Director-General Harold Clavite said addressing fake news or disinformation is a collaborative process.

“We need to make a stand altogether to change the public information landscape in the country,” Clavite said.

Clavite said the PIA will also start the advocacy campaign on media and information literacy (MIL) that will educate the public on how to counter wrong information and promote cyber wellness by the second half of the year.

The campaign is an offshoot of the ASEAN commitment to address these issues.

The Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) allocated funds for this purpose.

The PIA and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore are finalizing the campaign plan that will be rolled out in all 10 Asean member states this year.