00:00 Lawmakers are supportive of the goals and aspirations of the Presidential Communications
00:05 Office, especially when it comes to fighting fake news and disinformation. For her part,
00:10 the PCO chief expressed gratitude to the senators, who are also the Communications Office allies in
00:17 nation-building and ensuring that the public is well-informed of government programs and plans
00:23 for them. The Senate deemed submitted for plenary nod the proposed 2024 national budget of the
00:31 Presidential Communications Office, including its attached agencies. The PCO assured through
00:37 its budget sponsor, Senator J.V. Ejercito, on its crusade against fake news and disinformation.
00:43 Ejercito also told his fellow senators on the PCO's program regarding this matter.
00:49 Number one is media information literacy programs, national information summit,
00:55 campus committee caravans, unified communications or unicom project. So these are the programs that
01:02 they have to combat fake news and misinformation. PCO launched the media information literacy
01:09 campaign together with relevant agencies, the private sector, civil society to equip citizens
01:15 with the skills to become discerning consumers of information. Senator Rafi Tulfo, meanwhile,
01:20 is pushing for an increased budget for the People's Television Network. Tulfo explained
01:25 the need for additional funds for the upgrade of the equipment and facilities of PTV for better
01:31 quality programs and performance as well, as the People's Television Network aims to be one of the
01:37 top media networks in the Philippines. Mr. President, the 200 million is enough. That is the
01:44 conservative amount that we are asking for to improve the quality of our broadcasts on PTV4.
01:52 It is a government station that shows the image of our government, shows the activities of our
02:01 government, what our president does, etc. So therefore, I hereby appeal to my colleagues in
02:11 the Senate and Mr. President, that we should give, that we should give this 200 million.
02:20 About 200 million, Your Honor, Mr. President. Likewise, NTC already.
02:24 Because now, they have zero capital out. Communication Secretary Cheloy Garafil
02:29 thanked the senators and its leadership for appreciating the PCO's work,
02:34 especially in the fight against disinformation.
02:37 The PCO is happy because the Senate saw the importance of what the PCO is doing in terms of education,
02:46 information dissemination, finding fake news. That is why we are happy because there is an additional
02:52 promise of additional budget for PTV4, for IBC 13. We are very thankful.
03:00 Of course, to our sponsor, Senator JV.
03:03 Daniel Manolastas for The Nation.
03:05 (electronic music)
