SEN. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. last night urged Cebu broadcasters to play the roles of watchdog of government and a “playmate” of the public.
Marcos was a guest speaker during the induction of officers and board members of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) in Cebu and new KBP exam passers.
Marcos said the role of the media was not only to uplift society but to entertain the public.
“Sinasabi kong playmate dahil siyempre, kailangan din nating pasayhin — patawanin at paiyakin — ang ating mga kababayan, sa pamamagitan ng mga palabas na mataas ang antas at kalidad at nakapagtuturo ng mabuting asal, lalao na sa ating kabataan,” he said.
(I said ‘playmate’ because of course, we also have to entertain our countrymen – make them laugh and cry – through good quality presentations that uplift and teach good values, especially to our youths.)
He also urged broadcasters to live up to their oaths and professional duties in the media — to be free, accurate, fair and fearless — in accordance with the KBP Broadcaster’s Code and Journalists Code of Ethics
Last week, Marcos sponsored the counterpart bill in the Senate for the creation of a seventh legislative district out of Cebu’s second district in the south.
He said it would have positive economic effects on the province.
“Instead of only one congressman facilitating funds from the national government, there will be two,” he told a press conference earlier in the day.
Marcos, chairman of the Senate committee on local government, sponsored the counterpart of House Bill No. 4427 in the Senate.
In the Lower House, the bill was sponsored by 2nd district Rep. Wilfredo Caminero of the Liberal Party along with non-partymates Representatives Benhur Salimbangon (4th district), Aileen Radaza (Lapu-Lapu lone district), and Gwendolyn Garcia (3rd district).
Population count
The proposed new district will be composed of the towns of Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc and Ginatilan.
It has a population of 200,092 based on the 2010 census of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander and Samboan will continue to comprise the 2nd district of the province with a combined population of 223,360.
Marcos said the bill’s proponents explained that the present 2nd legislative district is located at the southern tail-end of the island of Cebu with a land area is almost one-third of the entire province.
“The enormous size of the land area of the present second congressional district, compared to the remaining districts of the province of Cebu, burdens its present representatives in the effective discharge of its duties to its constituents,” Marcos said.
Last year, the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) passed a resolution asking for this change to be pushed by the six congressmen.
Senator Marcos said the bill is set for second reading next week in the Senate.
He said no one would likely oppose it.
“It looks like all the legislators of Cebu agreed to divide the second district to create a seventh district,” he said.