Palace appeals to media to project good image of RP

Malacañang appealed to the media to focus more on reporting positive developments and help project a good image of the country before the international community.

While some media outfits have been fair in their reporting, others appear to have an "agenda" against the government, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye claimed.

"We’d like to see the media not just reporting the news but also trying to project the Philippines. I think that is something that is lacking, and we print news that may affect our competitiveness as a country and I think we should be able tap media for more positive news that will enhance our competitiveness in a global market," Bunye said in an interview with "Talkback" host Tina Monzon-Palma over ANC cable television.

Bunye made the statements after President Arroyo on Monday criticized some media outfits for being consistent in reporting no politics rather than the economic gains of the country.

"(We) are focused on the economy," the President said. "Even if some newspapers and some stations are always reporting about politics, in truth, our job is on the economy," Mrs. Arroyo said during a live televised roundtable discussion in Malacañang surrounded by some of her economic managers.

As Palace spokesman, Bunye, for his part, explained his job is to communicate the stand of the President on various issues and to "try to stress the positive rather than the negative without stretching the truth."

"As they say, we can view (a) glass of water as half empty or half full. We say (it) is half full," Bunye said.

Bunye expressed hope that the media would work to project the country in a more positive light in a joint effort with the government.

He said Mrs. Arroyo also took it upon herself to play television host while presiding roundtable discussions with members of the official family on various issues.

Bunye said the President wishes to communicate her policies directly to the people through national television.

Despite relentless efforts by the President’s detractors to destabilize her administration, Bunye said "things are working well" for the Philippines.

Bunye said the government could get a lot more mileage in its efforts to improve the economy and fight poverty if there were less "political noise."

Amid the political squabbling, Bunye pointed out that the economy was on the move, with the country’s gross domestic product stable at five percent while the peso remained one of the strongest currencies not only in Asia, but also in the world.