MINDANAO MEDIA HUB. The construction of the PHP700 million Mindanao Media Hub in Davao City is now in full swing. Photo shows Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar and Special Assistant to the President Secretary Christopher “Bong” Go lead the hard hat and the time capsule laying ceremony on Thursday (May 3, 2018).
DAVAO CITY – The construction of the PHP700 million Mindanao Media Hub in Davao City is now in full swing after the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), together with President Rodrigo Duterte’s special assistant, Secretary Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, led the hard hat and the time capsule laying ceremony on Thursday.
Go said the establishment of the hub is a testament to President Duterte's commitment to serve the Filipinos better, especially the Mindanaoans.
“With the strengthening of the government’s own television network, we will now have the full and rightful information and coverage we deserve,” he said.
Go described the media as a "source of accurate information the people need given the lack of credible and reliable news sources in different parts of the country." He pointed out that the mainstream media often focus their coverage on Metro Manila and other large cities.
He also said the rise of fake news in social media platforms and stranglehold of the elite people on the mainstream media have given rise to the importance of providing alternative sources of information.
The laying of the time capsule and groundbreaking of the multi-million media hub at its location along Carlos P. Garcia Highway, in Barangay Bangkal, coincided with the celebration of the World Press Freedom Day.
The four-story building, which will cost some PHP326 million, will house four government media entities: the People’s Television (PTV), Philippine Broadcast Service (PBS)-Radyo Pilipinas, News and Information Bureau-Philippine News Agency (NIB-PNA), and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
The structure, which sits on a 1-hectare land owned by PBS, will also feature a roof deck complete with building outfits and three other structures including employees canteen and a guard house. The PHP326 million will cover the landscaping and fencing.
PHP700-million Mindanao Media Hub include equipment upgrade for PTV and Radyo Pilipinas, which will already be airing in AM and FM band, aside from having state-of-the-art facilities and studios. Each floor has a size of 1,000 square meters.
“This hub will also serve as an emergency broadcast station in times of calamities, disasters and emergencies,” said Go, who was the guest of honor during the Hard Hat ceremony.
“Our people can also use this facility to tell the government what they need. They can also come here to report any wrongdoings and complaints against government officials,” Go added.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Mindanao Media Hub will be one of President Duterte's biggest legacies as it puts Mindanao closer to the center of governance.
“Akala ng tao ang power ng Pilipinas ay Metro Manila lang (People think that the powers (of the leadership) is only Metro Manila),” he said in an interview at the sidelines of the Hard Hat ceremony.
Andanar said PCOO will also be building the same project for the Visayas. The Mindanao Hub is targeted for completion by end of the year or early 2019.
The ceremony was attended by the chiefs of each media agency: Director Virginia Agtay of the NIB-PNA, PBS Director General Rizal Giovanni “Bong” Aportadera, Dino Apolonio – Network Manager of PTV, Director General Harold Clavite of the PIA, Undersecretary Joel Egco of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security and Asst. Secretary Joseph Garcia. (PNA)
