Respected business leader and known President Duterte supporter Ronie Osnan called on the various media groups from Mindanao to rally behind the shift to federalism.
“We may not agree with each other but we can agree on being united behind President Duterte’s determination to bring about federalism,” Osnan said during the Mindanao-wide media summit held at the SMX Lanang on Saturday.
“Kung ang media kasi ang magpasimuno sa adhikain ng federalism, siguradong mapapabilis ang dissemination sa sambayan,” said Osnan, a respected business leader.
He urged media groups to highlight the programs of the Duterte administration to include peace and order, the war against illegal drugs and terrorism, and the campaign for a shift to a federal form of government.
“Let us be part of this rare opportunity in our lives to help bring about change,” he said.
The summit brought together tri-media organizations and personalities from Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Tandag City, General Santos City, Cotabato City and Davao City and the Davao provinces.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Joel Egco, the guest speaker, spoke about the need to decriminalize libel which is generally seen as a form of harassment on the part of authorities or by individuals out to silence media practitioners.
The PCOO official also inducted the officers of the newly-formed media organization. Osnan spoke as chairman of the summit hosted by the Mindanao Federation of Fourth Estate.
Osnan said the newly-organized Mindanao-wide media organization will assist media outfits in terms of livelihood assistance.
“The livelihood assistance will not be given individually but to media organizations in their localities,” he said, adding it is high time media organizations think of coming up with entrepreneurs to improve their livelihood.
The media summit was conducted in a bid to unite all media groups in Mindanao to work together in bringing about federalism.
