By Junex Doronio
MANILA — In line with the envisioned “Bagong Pilipinas” by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Monday (12 Feb 2024) urged journalists to be instruments of positive change, acknowledging the media as a testament to the vibrancy of Philippine democracy.
Pangandaman hailed the media’s pivotal role in democracy, development, and fostering a united country.
“In a world inundated with information, the duty of the press in filtering fact from fiction, holding the powerful accountable, and amplifying the voices of the marginalized cannot be overstated. The week is a poignant reminder of the power and responsibility entrusted to our media practitioners,” Pangandaman said.
The country currently observes National Press Week.
Furthermore, the DBM chief noted the Philippine media — vibrant and free as it is under the Marcos Jr. administration — as “proof that democracy is alive in the country.”
“Huwag po ninyong kalilimutan na kayo ay lubhang mahalaga. In solidarity, we will persist in elevating the standards of journalism, championing the principles that render the profession invaluable to the flourishing democracy we treasure,” Pangandaman quipped.
She also recognized the contribution of media practitioners to the country’s development, democracy, and progress.
“To our journalists, may your pens be instruments of positive change, your cameras be lenses that capture the essence of our society, and your words and voices shine as a beacon of hope for a brighter future,” Pangandaman exhorted the members of the country’s Fourth Estate.
(el Amigo/MNM)