President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is positive that communication professionals will use their platform to “leverage positive communication in stirring the nation towards full recovery and lasting unity,” according to Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles.

PBBM encouraged the public relations (PR) experts to join his administration’s fight against fake news and misinformation. 

“The President likewise urges you to join the government in fighting against the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation through inclusive, compassionate, and responsible communication,” Cruz-Angeles said in a speech during the 2022 National Public Relations Congress held on Thursday. 

The Press Secretary delivered the statement as she highlighted the “One Messaging Policy” launched by the Marcos administration to curb misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation through a compact collaboration of government agencies under the executive branch. 

Cruz-Angeles further emphasized that the government is serious in implementing a single message because it fosters a “renewed sense of unity” in the Philippines. And intensifying the campaign to halt the production of fake news would make the country a “stronger” nation.

“By doing so, our country will emerge stronger as we pass this tipping point, a nation where our words may not only be expressed freely, but may also be used as an instrument to shape our country’s future,” she told PR officers and communication experts at the event held at Peninsula Manila in Makati City.

Non-profit organization, Public Relations Society of the Philippines organizes the National PR Congress annually attended by both local and international PR practitioners and communication experts. 

Cruz-Angeles’ speech relates to the first day topic of the congress, centered around the duty of positive communication in the concept of nation-building, training “tomorrow’s truth champions,” utilizing data innovation for truth and good, communicating wellness through the pandemic, and reenvisioning the new normal through a five-year roadmap.  

She also correlated the role of the public feedback and the performance of the government.

Last month, she stated that the Office of the Press Secretary will develop a “more comprehensive” mechanism to support feedback transmission, which may enable the Marcos administration to be “more responsive” to the needs of the Filipinos.

Photo Credit: Office of the Press Secretary website