Ethics In Philippine Media

The Philippine media is one of the most open, free and powerful press in the world.  But this freedom and power is also often abused, misused and corrupted.  I know what I am talking about having been reviled and maligned by unscrupulous talk radio commentators who call themselves "media" often enough in the past and present time.  Of course, I never respond to them having kept in mind the very good advice of a friend who is also a media practitioner, to never react to what talk radio says because by reacting, you add fuel to the fire. Besides that, Filipino press is not guided by any ethical standard, so why bother?

But to my surprise...no...shock is a better word...there is a Philippine Journalist's Code of Ethics which was formulated by the Philippine Press Institute and National Press Club and adopted by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and a KBP Broadcast Code established in 2007! 

Journalist's Code of Ethics (Philippines)

I. I shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts nor to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis. I recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly.

II. I shall not violate confidential information on material given me in the exercise of my calling.

III. I shall resort only to fair and honest methods in my effort to obtain news, photographs and/or documents, and shall properly identify myself as a representative of the press when obtaining any personal interview intended for publication.

IV. I shall refrain from writing reports that will adversely affect a private reputation unless the public interest justifies it. At the same time, I shall fight vigorously for public access to information.

V. I shall not let personal motives or interests influence me in the performance of my duties, nor shall I accept or offer any present, gift or other consideration of a nature that may cast doubt on my professional integrity.

VI. I shall not commit any act of plagiarism.

VII. I shall not, in any manner, ridicule, cast aspersions on, or degrade any person by reason of sex, creed, religious belief, political conviction, cultural and ethnic origin.

VIII. I shall presume persons accused of crime of being innocent until proven otherwise. I shall exercise caution in publishing names of minors and women involved in criminal cases so that they may not unjustly lose their standing in society.

IX. I shall not take unfair advantage of a fellow journalist.

X. I shall accept only such tasks as are compatible with the integrity and dignity of my profession, invoking the conscience clause when duties imposed on me conflict with the voice of my conscience.

XI. I shall conduct myself in public or while performing my duties as journalist in such manner as to maintain the dignity of my profession. When in doubt, decency should be my watchword.

 2007 KBP Broadcast Code Preamble

WE BELIEVE

THAT broadcasting in the Philippines should reflect the hopes and
dreams of a freedom loving people;

THAT broadcasting is a powerful medium in shaping our country's
cultural, social and economic growth and development;

THAT broadcasting, because of its immediate and lasting impact on the
public, demands of its practitioners a high sense of responsibility,
morality, fairness and honesty at all times.

THAT broadcasting has an obligation to uphold the properties and
customs of civilized society, maintain the respect of the rights and
sensitivities of all people, preserve the honor and the sanctity of
the family and home, protect the sacredness of individual dignity,
and promote national unity.

As I read through the full text of the KBP Broadcast Code 2007, I could only shake my head in disbelief.  Does any broadcaster follow this?  Because listening to commentators and blocktimers in radio for example, it seems to me that either many are not aware of the code or if they are, then they are willfully disregarding or violating it.    Television and print media are not much better either in reporting the news. Oftentimes, to beat their deadlines, the article (print or TV) that they put out may contain biases or rash inferences. This has happened many times to me, that they would print only one side of the story and write some kind of disclosure that they were not able to get my side because I could not be contacted.  But the truth is, I was never contacted, and because a deadline had to be met, then whatever "news" they can get even if these contain half-truths or taken out of context, gets printed or reported. This to me is a perfect example of unethical practice.  News reporters have the big responsibility to provide the reading public with accurate and impartial news. There is no room for errors in news, no guesses should be made, all the information should be double checked. I understand that competition is tough, but fair and responsible journalism should not be sacrificed in the name of sales or ratings. Sensationalism is really bad journalism.

The two codes outlined above need to be well implemented but, I guess like the laws of the country, they too are treated as suggestions. KBP tries, but it can only sanction its members and so, if you're not one...you can get away with almost anything. The best solution is self-regulation but unfortunately, in this country that remains just an ideal. Another area which I perceive may help in promoting ethical practices is just compensation for all media practitioners. I know that many of my media friends are paid salaries that are too low for the kind of work that they do. If news organizations want good and ethical news writers and reporters, then they should pay them well. This ensures that their loyalty is only to the organization they belong to, and no one else.

Fact or Fiction- The Aquino-Cojuangco YouTube Video

 

This video has been going viral since it was uploaded last October 21, 2011 by PinoyMonkeyPride on YouTube.  I don't know the person who made this but the purpose is evident and that is to discredit the Cojuangco-Aquinos.  Is it true and factual?  Well, it has footnotes and seems to be credible.  This video also looks professionally made.  Whoever made it or whoever commissioned this video to be made should come out in the open, otherwise speculation as to who is behind this will take away the relevance and importance of its message. 

Lessons Post-Pedring

Okay, so Typhoon Pedring (Nesat) has left the country...what now?  Everyone is busy cleaning up and repairs are needed.  But these are not the real solutions to the perennial flooding that occurs in Metro Manila.  This last onslaught affected not only the squatters, subdivisions, and the old city of Manila but big business establishments, hotels, condominiums and even the US embassy in areas that are not even flood prone in the past. Government agencies should start focusing and work as a team in the planning and implementation of an efficient flood control program.  It is also time for a rational housing program that will not displace people but allow them to continue to work and live in the area of their choice.  Data available on line have shown that a lot of assistance has been given to the Philippine government by foreign aid agencies specifically JICA, and in fact they have even come out with a manual in 2003 with the DPWH regarding flood control. The DPWH implementation which began in 2005 and ended in 2010, was made in chosen pilot areas other than Metro Manila and seems to be ongoing. But what about Metro Manila?  Flooding in Metro Manila and its suburbs is a by-product of rapid urban expansion, inadequate river channel capacities, and insufficient equipment for maintenance of existing drainage facilities, which are continuously clogged by squatting and garbage dumping.  There were several undertakings like the Mangahan Floodway Project which was conceived as an initial practical solution to mitigate chronic flooding in the Metro Manila. It was an ambitious project which would protect the greater Manila areas from peak flows with up to a 100-year recurrence interval.  So what failed?  According to this post in Pinoy Observer written in 2009, the MMDA has neglected to efficiently implement the flood control projects, which was started by DPWH but turned over to MMDA upon their insistence.  Another observation is that the whole length of the floodway has been occupied by squatters 5 to 6 rows thick. This has definitely added to the pollution and clogging of the floodway.

Manggahan Floodway on a clear day

Manggahan FLoodway during Typhoon Ondoy

Well, it seems to me that although flood control programs are in place, the inefficient operation, lack of monitoring and maintenance have rendered many of structural measures either insufficient or obsolete.  Newer structural measures will now have to be put in place, which of course will again cost money.  Equally important in any flood control program are the non-structural measures such as the effective operation of flood control structures, warning system, land use regulation, maintenance, etc.    It is also urgent that the informal settlers (squatters) living in the floodways, under the bridges, esteros, etc. should be relocated, not in God-forsaken places but in areas where they can work and make a decent living for their families.  Last summer, on my way to the airport we used the circumferential road passing by Libingan ng mga Bayani.  My driver pointed out to me the perimeter fences put up by government to ward off the squatters...of course, these people just had to make holes in these fences and they are back inside.  There was one thing I noticed...land...empty land...enough empty land behind the memorial grounds  to build a housing project of residential buildings similar to those I saw in Malaysia and Singapore.  I wondered out loud, why government cannot use this land for that purpose.  My driver provided the logical answer "walang pera yan, ma'am" (there is no money gained from that).  Oh yes, I forgot...this is the area of shopping malls, high end residencies, subdivisions and even a high end memorial park.  What business will a housing project bring here? Or to give a benefit of the doubt, maybe land use is limited.  But my logic tells me that even if the land use for this area is restricted by law...one can always amend the law.  All that open space can accommodate at least 5 to 10 high-rises for public housing. If this government means what it says, they will put that land to good use and use it to provide decent housing for the people.

View Relief Goods Drop-Off - Fort Bonifacio in a larger map

I love this country and I want to be proud of what we are and what we have. Our country ranking continues to slide down the ladder.  We must stop being spectators and start being citizens. We have had enough chances to do the right thing...let us make our government work for us. For love of country...the time is now.

Two years After Ondoy...Another Big Typhoon Hits Manila

When will we ever learn?  Two years after Ondoy, here comes Pedring.  I know that natural calamities are unpredictable and Manila is below sea level so flooding is inevitable...but isn't it about time that we minimize the damage?   Pictured below are old photos of flooding in Manila circa 1900's to 1960's.

photo courtesy of Paulo Alcazaren Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150340519349488&set=a.226285759487.174521.772454487&type=1&theater

photo courtesy of Paulo Alcazaren Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150340522519488&set=a.226285759487.174521.772454487&type=1

Photo courtesy of Paulo Alcazaren Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150340525279488&set=a.226285759487.174521.772454487&type=1

The problem is not so much about Metro Manila being flood-prone as to the lamentable fact that no lasting solution has ever been made to solve this. The current mindset is all about output...never the outcome.  Government agencies and LGU's flood control program consists of regularly dredging canals and cleaning up of esteros which are necessary services (outputs) but these will not produce the desired outcome - that is to minimize if not totally prevent flooding. Solutions should be made and implemented to manage the rapid urban expansion, improve river channel capacities (and remove informal settlers living along these channels), provide equipment for sufficient maintenance of drainage facilities which are persistently clogged by squatters and their waste.  Typhoon Pedring (Nesat) has brought flooding not only to the usual places in Manila but even in places which rarely experience high water.  Roxas Boulevard based on the 6:00 news this evening is waist deep in water, including the US Embassy and Manila Hotel. 

US Embassy, Roxas Blvd, Manila

This is surprising because it is one route where vehicles divert to when heavy rains or typhoons hit Manila. This area was basically flood free even in the hardest rain.  I remember in the late 70's coming from Bulacan and our bus could not enter the Balintawak cloverleaf, so we took the road to Novaliches which I later found out was Tandang Sora, took us all the way round to Katipunan, Aurora Blvd and then back to Quezon Avenue to drop us all in one corner in Dapitan St. which was also already partly under water.  Being young and fearless, I decided to go home to my grandmother's house in Pasay and rode a taxi shared with 2 other persons.  To avoid the flooded areas, our driver decided to take the back roads through Jose Abad Santos and Claro M. Recto crossing the Del Pan bridge where my 2 companions got off. From there we proceeded to Roxas Blvd. turning into Vito Cruz, then Donada, back to FB Harrison, then down Galvez (corner of Phil. School for the Blind), turning right at Park Avenue, left at Sanchez and finally home sweet home at P. Villanueva at past 10 in the evening.  The whole trip took more than 3 hours.  Of course, my grandmother was not pleased to say the least, because I could have just stayed at the UST Clinical Division where I was a bedspacer.  I really did not mind the flood when I was studying in Manila...it was actually a time of adventure, safety was never a consideration...at that point in my life.  But I guess as one gets older adventure turns to horror.  By the time I graduated, I couldn't wait to get back to the province (Negros Occidental)...metro living was not for me.  I fervently pray that the national government, the LGU's concerned makes real solutions soon and hopefully in my lifetime otherwise, unless absolutely necessary, I  will continue to stay away from Manila...ironically, the place of my birth.