Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. has said that the media will play a significant role in raising awareness as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) prepares for regional integration next year.
The fulfillment of this ASEAN integration dream will not come as one big bang but it will gradually unfold and blossom, Coloma said.
“As ministers responsible for information, ours is the vital yet daunting task of creating heightened awareness and continually raising the consciousness of our peoples about the significance of the ASEAN Community,” Coloma said in a statement for the participants of the 12th Conference of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information being held in Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar from June 9 to 13.
He said there is a need to reach a common understanding on the concept of “socially responsible media.”
In the Philippines, freedom of expression is highly valued, he said, adding that freedom of the press is also guarded with extraordinary zeal and vigilance.
The government is also firmly committed to upholding the principles of openness, transparency and public accountability and has institutionalized full disclosure of national and local budget, major disbursements and procurements, and implementation of programs and projects, he added.
He noted that the Aquino government has endeavored to engage private media practitioners and organizations, as well as members of civil society, in continuing dialogue to bridge differences in perspective and build common ground for collaborative action.
At the same time, Coloma renewed the country’s commitment to ASEAN community building.
He said that in recent meetings, the Philippines has actively espoused the formulation of national communication plans that are aligned with the three communication plans of the ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community, and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.
The Myanmar conference on information has the theme, “Socially Responsible Media for a Peaceful and Prosperous ASEAN Community”.
The next Conference of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information will be held in Manila in March 2016.
The members of the Philippine delegation are Undersecretary George Syliangco and Undersecretary Jess Yu of PCOO, Asec. Virgilio P. Nadal, Jr. of Radio-TV Malacañang, Philippine Information Agency Director Belina Capul, Philippine Broadcast System Director Tito G. Cruz, PCOO Directors Ma. Cristina C. Mariano and Ma. Cecilia Javillonar.
