Senator Robin Padilla on Saturday, April 6, stressed the importance of the role of the mainstream media in reporting the truth amid the massive proliferation of fake news on social media.
People now a days opt to believe what is proliferating on social media from unreliable sources over the truth from trained journalists, Padilla said in his speech at the Negros Press Club (NPC) induction rites at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City.
He also stressed the need to highlight pressing issues affecting the Filipino people such as the El Niño phenomenon.
Padilla, Senate committee on public information and mass media chairman, inducted Erwin “Ambo” Delilan as the new president of the Negros Press Club.
Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya administered the oaths of office of Nida Buenafe as vice president, Lourd John Diaz – secretary, Nanette Guadalquiver – treasurer, Nona Magbanua – auditor, and Mae Singuay, Yves Montecillo, Rey Siason and Dolly Yasa as directors.
The 19 new members of the NPC who took their oaths before Delilan are Ronnie Baldonado, Cherry Grace Santillan, Jorexmar Careon, Liberty Padriga, Marcollin Cabawatan, Alejo Antonio Mondejar, Charcu Lucasan, Robert Cabalfin;
Maureen Andrea Soliguin, Mira Nicole Magbanua, Llanee Zil Menardo, Reyster Gani, Carlo Benedict Uberas, Arturo Jose Salgado, Mar Vincent Aranjuez, Eric Tenerife, Czyro Vann Albay, Reynald Castillo and Reymond Titong.
Delilan pledged to make each and every NPC member, particularly those in the legacy media, relevant amid the challenging era of digitalization.
He released P100,000 in assistance from Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to seven ailing and elderly NPC members.
Delilan also announced that Gasataya is funding the renovation of the Negros Press Club office that will commence on Tuesday,
Businessman Ian Lo donated P500,000 and Padilla gave P100,000 for the various projects of the club, Delilan also said.
They have scheduled monthly projects, the first of which will be in May for World Press Freedom Day. It will be provincewide TV and radio broadcasting contests for elementary, high school and college students, he said.
The three-day event is a joint project of the NPC, SM City and Gasataya, Delilan said.*