GMA partners with Inquirer, other organizations for 2019 poll coverage

With the upcoming 2019 midterm elections having kicked off with the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COCs), GMA 7 has sealed a partnership with the Inquirer Group and other leading organizations for the coverage of Eleksyon 2019 with the battlecry #PusuanAngTotoo.

Many respected names in media, telecommunications, technology, the academe, business and public service cemented their partnership in safeguarding the ballot and standing for the truth at the Eleksyon 2019 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing held on Friday, October 19 at the GMA Network Center in Quezon City.

As technology made the pace of information faster than ever, GMA’s Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon said “new ways to share facts and ideas continue to emerge.”

“While this may be a good thing, many believe, however, that this has also helped blur the line between truth and lies,” he added.

Gozon said the launch of the “Pusuan ang Totoo” election advocacy for next year’s elections is a call to stand for what is true, to fight against corruption and disinformation and to choose leaders who will truly serve the country.

“Now, more than ever, we remain steadfast in delivering an election coverage with no spins or personal agenda – truthfully, accurately, comprehensively, and driven only by Serbisyong Totoo,” Gozon said.

Next year’s polls will be the sixth election that GMA will be partnering with the Inquirer group.

“This is the 6th election that media giants such as GMA7, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Inquirer.net joined forces to deliver public service with the commitment to do what is right for the Philippines.” Inquirer.net President Paolo Prieto said.

Inquirer president and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez meanwhile said the partnership is a shared commitment among partner institutions to “offer its resources to arm the voters with factual information in real time using different platforms.”

“It is our aim to empower the voters so that they are more educated, involved, engaged, and vigilant for a better Philippines,” she added.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon was also present in the launch to champion the importance of voter education so “voters can differentiate between good and bad candidates.”

GMA7 signs memorandum of agreement with Inquirer Group, other organizations for 2019 election coverage. Photo by Krissy Aguilar / INQUIRER.net

She emphasized the Filipino citizens’ power to vote that can empower them to make informed choices, while also calling on the partners to “fight fake news.”

The Eleksyon 2019 launch was hosted by GMA News and Public Affairs anchors Vicky Morales and Mike Enriquez, marking the latter’s first appearance after his heart bypass operation last September.

News anchors Jessica Soho, Mel Tiangco, Howie Severino and Arnold Clavio were also present at the event.

Other partners 

Joining the leadership of Atty. Gozon and GMA’s President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr. are the Kapuso Network’s internal partners: GMA News TV, GMA New Media Inc. (NMI), GMA Radio (RGMA,  DZBB and WLS-FM), GMA Regional TV, GMA News Online and GMA News and Public Affairs Social Media, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International, and GMA Kapuso Foundation.

GMA’s Eleksyon 2019 coverage is fortified by partners from the Comelec, telecommunications giant PLDT-Smart Communications, leading media organizations Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI), Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Inquirer.net and Catholic Media Network (CMN), and election watchdogs Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL).

Joining the roster of Eleksyon 2019 partners are the country’s top universities: University of the Philippines (UP); Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP); Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU); De La Salle University (DLSU); University of Santo Tomas (UST); and AMA Education System.

For the first time, GMA also welcomed regional school partners from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao: PHINMA – University of Pangasinan in North Central Luzon; University of San Carlos in Cebu City; Silliman University in Dumaguete City; West Visayas State University in Iloilo City; Central Mindanao University in Bukidnon; Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City; and Holy Cross Davao College in Davao City.

Also included in the line-up are partners from the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP); the Philippine Bar Association (PBA); the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP); and the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands (CCPI).

Eleksyon 2019 also collaborates with video-sharing platform YouTube and social media platform Twitter for a wider reach in delivering comprehensive coverage in next year’s polls. /muf