MAKATI, Philippines. Speaking yesterday (April 27, 2023) during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. assured Philippine media that they can practice their profession freely and safely under his administration.
While admitting that the Philippines slipped down to 147th rank among 180 countries in the 2022 World Press Freedom Index, President Marcos told the KBP: “As a testament to our oneness with the international community, we shall work hard hand in hand with you to improve the present situation and climb our way up in these rankings.”
Marcos also remarked on the rise of misinformation in the emerging and interactive media. “These are among the negative effects of technological advancement and the social media age. However, it is something that is to be expected considering how powerful a tool social media has become, and like any other powerful tool, it cuts both ways,” he said.
“It is once again up to the KBP to bring a measure of stability, a measure of objectivity, to help our people discern what is the real information and what is propaganda,” Marcos said.
Marcos thanked the KBP for upholding responsible broadcasting and exhorted the broadcast organization to continue “your very important work with our people and with the government—addressing and remedying the issues and challenges that we face.” He said that KBP should “take the lead and foster public discussion, truth, and credibility, and the rule of law especially in the practice of broadcasting, news reporting, and information dissemination.”
Marcos said that for its part the government will remain committed to ensuring transparency and good governance, freedom of expression and of the press, and the protection of media practitioners and their rights in the practice of their profession.
The KBP is the association of radio and television broadcasters whose members are bound by a common code of conduct and a commitment to promote better standards and business practices in the industry through an independent self-regulatory system.
The KBP’s 50th anniversary celebration was held at the Manila Poll Club in Makati. Also present during the event were Secretary Alfredo Pascual of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Secretary Ivan John Uy of the Department Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil, and Commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).