PCOO chief gets honorary membership award from CDO press club

MANILA – Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar received an honorary membership award from the Cagayan De Oro Press Club in a ceremony on Friday.

Andanar, who dreamt of being a journalist since he was young, was given the award during the CDO Press Club anniversary at Philtown Hotel, Cagayan De Oro.

In his speech, Andanar said he was inspired by two members of the CDO Press Club namely lawyer Reuben Canoy and former Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr., who were both former mayors, and members of the Consultative Committee (ConCom) which drafted the federal charter.

The CDO Press Club, which recently turned 67, is the oldest press club in the country.

Meanwhile, Andanar witnessed the oath taking of the new members of the CDO Press Club, and vowed to continue helping journalists and other media organizations in the country.

Andanar also handed out to the members the handbook for media protection which was officially launched last month.

The handbook seeks to provide media professionals with precautionary measures to ensure their safety during coverage.

He said the Executive Department's Freedom and Information (FOI) and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) are manifestations of President Rodrigo Duterte's sincerity to help media members.

PTFoMS Executive Director, Undersecretary Joel Egco, on the other hand, lauded the visions of Andanar in improving the PCOO.

"Matagal na po akong nagko-cover sa Malakanyang. Si Sec. Andanar lang po ang Press Secretary na talagang maraming nagawa para sa PCOO (I have been covering Malacañang for the longest time. It is only Sec. Andanar who really did a lot for the PCOO)," Egco said.

Egco added that by next year, they will conduct seminars so that journalists can practice the contents of the handbook.

The PTFoMS was created through Administration Order No. 01 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in October 2016 to address media killings and harassment. (PNA)