Media is “unfair,” Raymond cries

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia cried foul over alleged negative reporting on the Palarong Pambansa 2024, saying the media has been "unfair" to the city's efforts.

Yesterday, July 12, 2024, a coordination meeting was held where multiple agencies and committees handling the Palarong Pambansa were present. This included local police, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Local School Board (LSB), Department of Public Services (DPS), and Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO), among others.

Some members of the Cebu media were invited to cover the meeting held at the social hall of the Legislative Building.

As Garcia presided over the meeting, he said that he invited the media to join in order to hear the efforts of the government for the Palaro’s success.

He then lamented over a report of the issues concerning the billeting quarters wherein some delegates struggled with water supply and broken facilities, particularly clogged comfort rooms.

With this, he reiterated the call for impartiality among the media. “Media, be fair,” he said.

“Ang nindot nga balita is also a balita. Ang nindot maoy i-balita,” Garcia added.

During the meeting, Garcia took time to recognize the efforts of various agencies behind the preparation for the hosting of Palarong Pambansa.

He first allowed Harold Alcontin, head of the CDRRMO to report saying that as early as June 6, just before the arrival of the delegates, they were able to deploy members around all the billeting quarters.

There are currently 43 CDRRMO members deployed for both the billeting quarters and the playing venues.

“You see how we’ve been preparing labi na atong disaster and everybody actually contributes to the success of the palaro. This is what I call cooperation. Tinabangay sa tanan kay para ma successful atong hosting sa Palaro. So once again salamat kaayo sa atong disaster for their contribution for our Palaro to be a success,” said Garcia.

“Actually, this is what the people should realize, especially the media, di mi perfect. Naa gyuy mga concerns nga mutumaw, what is important is the down time that we can respond to these concerns. And I think that is where we are good at,” he added.

Garcia then said that the committees must be appreciated for how they have responded to the problems, reiterating their “imperfections” in handling all concerns. In his words, Garcia said they are not “living in the perfect world” hence they cannot predict the future.

“Di man nato ma predict nga ang kanang banyo ma bara kay nay gipanglabay diay nga mga napkins og mga tissues, these are things that are unexpected. These are issues and concerns, pero kung mutumaw man gani na, atong tagaan og solusyon, mao nay pinaka importante. And we are doing it right, and we are doing it correctly,” said Garcia.

Garcia then called on the DPS to answer the issues on suctioning of clogged comfort rooms, as well as the LSB to solve the problems of the septic tanks around the schools once the holding of the Palaro is over.

Further, DPS officer-in-charge John Paul Gelasque likewise justified their swift action towards the suction requests and calls on the media to stop “sensationalizing.”

“Mamalihog lang pud ko sa media, again muhangyo lang mi ba nga bisan gamay lang gud nga di kaayo matarong, pero na deliver pud namo anang adlawa uy, layo na kaayo ng duha ka oras pero sometimes man gud ato ning i-sensationalize. I used the word sensationalize kay nindot na kaayo then pagkahuman, murag bati kaayo nag kalibutan nga walay balita nga bati, maong mangita mog balita nga bati,” he said.

“Again noh, let’s be fair to the people who are doing their jobs,” Magor Garcia also said.

On the same day, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines - Cebu Chapter released a statement to “respectfully remind officials that journalists do not “actively seek issues” to write.

“We appreciate the effort to provide clarity on the matter from the government’s end but it’s the media’s duty to contextualize and report the concerns of stakeholders as well,” the statement reads.

The NUJP- Cebu statement further calls for genuine collaboration between officials and the press.

DELEGATES SATISFIED

Meanwhile, some delegates for the Palarong Pambansa 2024 have expressed satisfaction with their assigned billeting quarters.

A 12-year-old student-athlete from MIMAROPA said they have consistent water supply for both their comfort rooms.

In another interview, Coach Grace Mariano from National Capitol Region (NCR), which is currently being housed at Talamban Elementary School, said that they are facing minor problems with their comfort rooms due to the number of delegates.

“Especially Cebu organizing for three major events…so it’s a bit tricky but we will give to Cebu because it is actually a good job,” she said.

Coach Isagani Matchas from Region 10 Mindanao also said they were being properly catered to at the Barrio Luz Elementary School.

Rating their whole Cebu City experience, he said they would give it a perfect ten.