A project of the
Evelio B. Javier
Foundation, Inc.
 
 

 
Public Journalism Interventions for the Palawan Media

1. Research/Networking Session as an initial activity prior to the conduct of a demand-driven seminar or workshop. (February 7-9, 1999). See attachment.

2. The Challenge for Media: Meeting the Demands of a Changing Environment
  • A seminar-workshop conducted last March 12-14 1999 for the Palawan Press Club; coordinated by Yasmin Arquiza, incumbent president of PPC. Held at Princesa Holiday Resort, Aborlan, with around 24 participants from both private and government media organizations/members of PPC.
  • The concept of PJ was first introduced to the Palawan media-- media’s emerging role in a changing community, its participation in community/local affairs. Also tackled was clarification of one’s values viz Press Ethics, Freedom and Responsibility. The Palawan Press Club as an organization was allowed a visioning exercise wherein the member-participants of the seminar envisioned its place and role in the development of Palawan.

3. Strengthening the Palawan Press Club Towards Meaningful Citizen Participation in Local Governance (FNS sponsored)
  • To enhance and strengthen the gains of earlier intervention, a seminar-workshop was held on Sept. 24-25 1999, this time supported by the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung in Hotel Asturias in Puerto Princesa.
  • The doability of the concept of Public Journalism in the Philippines was emphasized through the sharing of the experience of Aklan. Jay Tejada of RGMA and Didi Quimpo of Uswag Development Foundation presented their case to the Palawan group. There was also a discussion on Press Ethics with Ms. Malou Mangahas as the resource person and Sheila Coronel giving a presentation of Investigative Reporting as enabling values & skills respectively when undertaking public journalism.
  • This seminar aimed to provide additional skills to the members of the Palawan Press Club as well as the opportunity for them to strengthen relationship as members of the organization.

Some Positive results:

The election of new set of officers was also held during the latter part of the activity. It was also during this activity that the Memoranda of Agreement with the City Government of Puerto Princesa and the Provincial Govt were signed. See attachments.

Some Negative results:

The election added tension to the already strained relationship between some personalities (specifically Yasmin and Teng Formoso and their “followers.” Apparently, the distance between the two grew wider that the Palawan press Club was affected. It failed to implement or initiate the planned PJ activities. See attachments.

4. Cross-visit to Estrella Falls & St. Paul Subterranean River National Park: A Public Journalism Initiative of the Bandillo ng Palawan.
  • The activity aimed to provide insights or learnings from the exposure trips to Estrella Falls in Narra, the Olangoan Falls Nature Park and St. Paul’s National Park in Sabang, sharing of experiences in the management of a protected area, and identification of workable strategies.
  • Conducted on May 10-13 2000.
  • This activity was a partnership of the Bandillo ng Palawan, Barangay Binduyan, Henry TSL Foundation, with support from the EBJF PJ Project. The Henry TSL Foundation is a private group which has provided funds for the management of the Binduyan Forests Project. Although the Binduyan residents themselves have been managing the forests since Sept. 1999, Bandillo was requested by Henry TSL foundation to assist in the implementation of said project.
  • See attachments.

Some positive results:
  • Very good on-site sharing/interaction of protection & management practices of protected areas between visitors and hosts & DENR representatives. Among the visitor-participants, they were able to assess own practices that were already effective, discern which were better compared to that of the hosts & identify reasons why, and determine what they still lack.
  • Participants were able to point out doables of rangers, specific ordinance needs of their area to be initiated by the councilmen, DENR assistance.
  • Validation of Cross-visits or lakbay-aral as a high-impact approach to learning (to see is to believe).
  • those affected by the issue can analyze and express for themselves what their specific needs are and find solutions to them by just providing them the venue to do so.

Local Champion --- The Bandillo ng Palawan, as an environmental organization in Palawan using their publication of the same title. Through the medium, Bandillo seeks to promote environmental awareness and responsible community journalism.

5. Multi-Sectoral Consultation and Candidates Forum for the 2001 May Elections

See Attachments

6. Training of Trainers (TOT)
  • Held last June 25-29 2001 at Elm St. Café, El Nido, Palawan
  • Again, coordinated by the Bandillo ng Palawan together with SAGUDA, an NGO doing advocacy work in the province.
  • The group was composed of media, other environmental NGOs based in Palawan such as SAGUDA, PRRM, KKP, Ten Knots Foundation, El Nido Foundation, and the PCSDS. The LGUs of El Nido, Taytay and Coron participated through their Sanggunian Bayan member, Tourism Council Officers, respectively.
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  • The request was partly triggered by the same group’s involvement in the Multi-Sectoral Consultation & Candidates Forum during the May 2001 elections. This Training of Trainers will also help them specially the media when they start planning & implementing PJ activities such as town meetings or dialogues.

NOTE: it was only Bandillo which initiated PJ activities. Bandillo partnered with only specific media organizations or media practitioners during these occasions. Bandillo has also actively pursued its involvement with other environmental groups such as SAGUDA and the Palawan Network of NGOs, Inc.

The Press Club has not been active as far as Public Journalism is concerned. During the meeting with Teng Formoso in April, 2001 she talked about an inactive year while she was the president. Although she with some colleagues got involved with an information campaign for the Shell Manampalaya Sound Project, she felt that she had not met the expectations of the members. She said she has made some initial plans with the current officers to revive the PPC and has promised to keep the EBJF updated.