NEW OFFICERS. Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph G. Recto leads the induction of the new officers of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP), the country's premier organization for business journalists, at the DOF's head office in Manila on March 21, 2024. EJAP's new officers in attendance were (from left to right) Neil Jerome Morales (Reuters News), president; Kris Crismundo (Philippine News Agency), vice president-internal; Maria Bernadette Romero (Daily Tribune), secretary; Lorenz Marasigan (BusinessMirror), treasurer; Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star), auditor; and board members Elijah Felice Rosales (The Philippine Star), Alena Mae Flores (Manila Standard), Jenniffer Austria (Manila Standard), Lawrence Agcaoili (The Philippine Star), and Jimmy Calapati (Malaya Business Insight). Not in photo is Michelle Ong (ANC), vice president-external. (Courtesy of DOF and EJAP)
MANILA – Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto led the induction of the new set of officers of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP), the country’s premier organization of business reporters.
In his keynote speech at the induction ceremony at the DOF Office on Thursday evening, Recto underscored the vital role of economic journalists in shaping public understanding and better policymaking.
He also urged business reporters to maintain fairness in covering economic and fiscal matters.
“Call us out if we are wrong, and on times we have done something good, write about our wins––just the facts, no add-on praises needed. Because if you do your work, you help us with ours, as the feedback your reports trigger is crucial in improving policy,” the Finance chief said.
He added that the public interest is better served by a media that is fair, free, and fights, rather than one that sings empty praises.
“As I preach the gospel of a brighter Philippine economy and how we intend to turn this optimism into a daily reality for every Filipino, I realized that I cannot do it without you,” Recto said.
Meanwhile, Neil Jerome Morales of Reuters is elected as the new EJAP president.
Philippine News Agency’s Trade and Energy reporter Kris Crismundo serves as the vice president for internal along with ABS-CBN News Channel’s Michelle Ong as vice president for external.
Completing the set of officers this year are Daily Tribune’s Maria Bernadette Romero as secretary, BusinessMirror’s Lorenz Marasigan, as treasurer; The Philippine Star’s Louise Maureen Simeon as auditor, with board members Elijah Felice Rosales and Lawrence Agcaoili of The Philippine Star, Alena Mae Flores of Manila Standard and Jenniffer Austria of Manila Standard, and Jimmy Calapati of Malaya Business Insight.
Aside from its regular activities such as holding business forums and programs for the members’ welfare, EJAP will continue its partnership with colleges and universities that offers journalism courses to conduct training to prepare the future workforce of the industry. (PNA)
