MANILA, Philippines – The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) has urged Malacañang to reconsider its decision to have media organizations accredited first before being allowed to cover the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 outbreak.
In a statement, NUJP said securing media accreditation first may be “counterproductive” as quick information —which media practitioners and companies can provide — is badly needed during such times.
“The announcement therefore that the media must secure an identification card from the PCOO in order to be allowed to cover is unfortunate and may prove counterproductive when vetted information from media professionals is most needed by the already nervous populace,” NUJP said Monday night, a few minutes after President Rodrigo Duterte announced the government’s leveled-up quarantine measure.
“Media outfits have issued safety guidelines to their journalists. We are aware that we need to contribute to the resolution of this emergency and we can do it best by doing our jobs as journalists. Making it difficult for us to contribute does not help at all,” they added.
Shortly after the President’s address, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said that media outfits should secure permits before being allowed to move through the streets.
Without the permits from PCOO, media companies were only allowed to operate for the first 72 hours, or until Thursday midnight, said Andanar, and would not be exempted from the quarantine.
“We urge Malacañang to reconsider its decision. The media are better as partners during emergencies,” NUJP noted.
The quarantine encompassing Luzon was placed after over 142 individuals have already tested positive for COVID-19, with 12 already dead from the disease. Worldwide, over 168,000 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19, with at least 6,506 dead.
The COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus that first emerged in China’s city of Wuhan in Hubei province in late 2019.
The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses named the novel coronavirus as SARS-CoV-2.
Coronavirus is a family of viruses, which surfaces have a crown-like appearance. The viruses are named for the spikes on their surfaces.