MINDANAO DAILY TRUTH. JUSTICE. PROGRESS.
S ince
Volume IX, No. 233
www.mindanaodailynews.com
Sat-Sun, March 7-8, 2020
1923
P15.00
Press freedom very much alive in the country - Andanar
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By RUTH ABBEY GITA-CARLOS, PNA
ANILA — Media outlets in the Philippines currently enjoy press freedom under the watch of President Rodrigo Duterte, Presidential Communications Operations Office
(PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said Tuesday. During a media engagement at the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Switzerland, Andanar stressed that press freedom is “very much alive” since Duterte became
President in 2016. Andanar noted that the Duterte government has created an “enabling media environment” and a “safe space for journalists.” “The Philippines enjoys a long-standing history of press freedom. This should attest that press freedom
is very much alive in the Philippines,” he said. His statement came as critics slammed the current administration’s supposed attempts to curtail press freedom. Some have claimed that the alleged effort to block See FREEDOM, page 11
PRESS FREEDOM ALIVE. Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Tuesday (Feb. 25, 2020) reassures that press freedom in the Philippines is “very much alive”. During his roundtable discussion with media in the United Nations, Andanar guarantees that there is no attempt to control the media under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte. photo courtesy of pcoo
DU30 satisfaction rating back to excellent - SWS By RUTH ABBEY GITA-CARLOS, PNA
MANILA – Public satisfaction with the performance of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has improved in the fourth Cagayan de Oro City Councilor Joyleen Mercedes Balaba (left) inducts the 2020 set of officers of the Cagayan de quarter of 2019, after it reOro Press Club led by president Dr. Manuel Jaudian (standing next to her) during ceremonies held March 5 at Grand covered to “excellent,” based on a recent Social Weather Caprice Restaurant and Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro City. photo by mark francisco
S. Cotabato acquires mobile x-ray van
Stations (SWS) poll. The SWS Dec. 13-16, 2019 survey found that 81 percent of Filipinos were satisfied with the work of the Duterte government, while only 7 percent were See EXCELLENT, page 11
By MINDANEWS
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Health personnel in South Cotabato province are planning to acquire a mobile x-ray van to augment its intensified surveillance activities against tuberculosis (TB). Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., head of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), said they are set to submit a proposal to the Provincial Development Council’s social development committee for the purchase of the mobile facility. He said the move aims to improve the province’s detection rate for TB and address its increasing cases.
Last month, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) deployed a mobile x-ray van in a joint anti-TB campaign in parts of the province. “We want to sustain the initiative we started with PBSP by deploying our own mobile x-ray van,” Aturdido said in a statement. He said at least two batches of residents province-wide were able to avail of the x-ray services provided by PBSP, which has been supporting the anti-TB campaign in the area. The recipients included inmates of the South Co- Officials in a ribbon cutting during the launch of the PUV Modernization Program for Misamis Oriental as dozens of modtabato Rehabilitation and ernized PUVs will operate within the province. In the photo are Donal Rey Ellarina (left), president of Donsal’s Express See ACQUIRE, page 9
CEO, LTFRB-10 RD Alan Guro (3rd from left), Mis. Or. Gov. Bambi Emano, and other dignitaries. photo by gerry lee gorit