VP cites media role, lauds FOI order

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Leni Robredo highlighted the role of the media in effecting lasting change in the country as she joined The Philippine STAR in celebrating its 30th anniversary on Thursday. 

Speaking at The STAR’s anniversary celebration at Shangri-La at The Fort in Taguig City, Robredo said the commitment of the Duterte administration to freedom of information (FOI) puts the media in a better position to do its job in educating the citizenry. 

“Now that the government has put the full force of its commitment behind the Freedom of Information, and with open data institutionalized in government agencies, the press can be an even more powerful instrument for deep change that will last,” she said.

“The information highways are open; it is up to you to dive deep into the numbers and make sense of them,” she added. 

An advocate of FOI during her tenure as a lawmaker, the Vice President stressed that the government should be obliged to make information public even without demand. 

“Government should be open about its data; but people have to care enough to use them. If our citizenry is not yet ready, we hope that you already are,” she told journalists in attendance at The STAR anniversary. 

“Soon you no longer have to beg the officials in your beats for memos. They are obligated to make all these available before you even ask,” she added. 

President Duterte recently signed an executive order on FOI covering agencies under the executive branch. 

Philippine STAR pioneers (from left) account supervisor Mike Maneze, editor-in-chief Ana Marie Pamintuan, lifestyle editor Millet Mananquil, sports editor Lito Tacujan and editorial layout artist Ed Amoroso receive their trophies for 30 years of service during The STAR’s anniversary party at Shangri-La at the Fort on Thursday. With them are MVP Group chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte and chairman of the board Ray Espinosa.

The passage of the FOI bill, which has languished in Congress for decades, is also among the priority legislation of the Duterte administration. 

In her speech, Robredo noted the contributions of media like The Philippine STAR to the country. 

“Many of our nation’s problems could be solved if people read newspapers on a daily basis. We would have a more educated voter base, a more engaged citizenry, youth that understand what critical thinking entails and parents who know that their children don’t need a lecture on their grades but a lecture on integrity and good citizenry,” she said. 

“That is what we truly believe in. Your words are a blessing to our nation,” added the Vice President. 

She also paid tribute to journalists who have fought for freedom of speech and the press during trying times. 

“The freedom to speak your mind, to express your frustrations and to call for change is a freedom bought by the blood, sweat and tears of many great journalists before you,” she said.

“It is because of them that we are able to celebrate 30 years worth of published daily issues,” she added.