USEC. ROCKY IGNACIO: Magandang tanghali MPC at sa ating mga bisita. Kasama na natin si Presidential Chief Legal Counsel at Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
SEC. PANELO: Good afternoon, MPC. I’m ready if you are…
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir… alright. So I read the transcript ‘no with regard to the President’s health. So he was asked yesterday kumusta na iyong back pain and if I may quote President Duterte: “It requires a lengthy explanation actually. Iyong muscle spasm must be precipitated with something. A muscle spasm by itself is not—is really nothing. There has to be something which ayaw ko munang sabihin sa inyo but then again it’s connected with the spinal ano…”
Focusing on that statement sir, mayroon pa bang ibang kailangang malaman iyong public? Because the President even said ayaw niya munang sabihin sa amin, but sabi niya the muscle spasm may be an indicator of something else. Is the Palace or the President being forthright about the real situation?
SEC. PANELO: Forthright na nga, ano pa bang tawag mo doon? Well actually, he’s saying that there will be a continuing consultation with his doctor.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Nothing as worse—nothing worse than the muscle spasm?
SEC. PANELO: No.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, related. How is this health situation of the President going to affect his future travels? His one in Thailand is confirmed ‘no; and there’s one in Busan and then Chile. How is it going to affect the—
SEC. PANELO: Depende siguro sa advice ng doktor. It depends on the advice of the doctor.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Is he going to Chile?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi pa sigurado. Wala pa, wala pa siyang sinasabi. Sabi niya, matagal pa naman iyon eh.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: That will be on the 11th.
SEC. PANELO: Kaya nga. Ano lang ba ngayon? It’s only 29.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Meaning sir, wala pang decision to not attend?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Iyong totoo…
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa. Depende kasi ‘yan sa consultation niya sa doktor niya. Eh kung ayaw siya pagbiyahehin ng doktor niya, eh ba’t naman siya magbibiyahe.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, may scheduled consultations?
SEC. PANELO: Continuing yata iyong consultation niya ang alam ko.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, right now there are massive protests in Santiago, Chile a few days before the APEC Summit. Will that also be taken into consideration by the President?
SEC. PANELO: Everything will be taken in consideration relative to any foreign visit.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Thank you, sir.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Hi, sir. Regarding sa offer ni President Duterte kay Vice President Leni Robredo. Nagkaroon po ba ng feedback from her office po ba or iyong sinabi ng Pangulong Duterte na magbibigay siya ng formal letter, ginawa na po ba iyon ng Office of the Executive Secretary po?
SEC. PANELO: So far, we have not heard from the Vice President. I texted her yesterday immediately after the President made the offer or more of a challenge, but she has not responded.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Sir, sabi ni Senator Francis Pangilinan bakit daw six months lang? Why not three years ang ibigay daw kay VP Leni, regarding doon sa offer ni PRRD?
SEC. PANELO: I think the good senator is engaged in wishful thinking, if not, in a daylight nightmare. The offer is precisely for the Vice President to be the drug czar, because as the President says, “Parang magaling ka yata, o ‘di sige ibibigay ko sa’yo para makita naman natin kung may magagawa kang paraan.” That’s a challenge to her, and I think she should take the opportunity. After all, when we launched the drug war by the President, she was a member of the Cabinet and she was in full accord and in support of the same.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: So sir iyong position po sir, Cabinet level po ito? ‘Pag tinanggap niya, makakasama—
SEC. PANELO: Not necessarily. If you’re appointed by the President, it doesn’t mean that you’re a member of the Cabinet – that could be a special assignment.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Okay.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Secretary, what’s the President’s legal basis for making such offer to the Vice President?
SEC. PANELO: He is the Chief Executive and enforcer of the law. He can create task force and appoint people to run it.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: So, it is allowed?
SEC. PANELO: Of course.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: He can delegate the power—
SEC. PANELO: Of course, he is just creating a commission, creating a task force for this on that…
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Thank you, Sec.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Elaboration, you texted or you called the Vice President?
response, sir? [laughs] Okay lang iyon? Sir, game?
Sir, okay. You texted the Vice President to tell her exactly what?
SEC. PANELO: I said—this is in Bicol, because we’re both Bicolano. Translated: “There is an offer for you from the President to be the drug czar for six months. Will you accept?” That’s exactly my text message to her.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And so far, no response yet?
SEC. PANELO: No response.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, okay. The President is going to create a what? Task force or commission?
SEC. PANELO: Yeah, task force or commission, whatever. She will be the drug czar. She’ll be on top of the situation.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So all drugs operations will be under Vice President under the proposal?
SEC. PANELO: Yeah I suppose, if you are the drug czar.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And, hindi naman siya sir parang figure of speech on the part of the President na nainis na lang siya and “Eh ‘di ikaw na lang,” parang ganoon. No?
SEC. PANELO: Kahit pa that was a reaction from the President, whether it’s out of peeve or of serious matter, the fact is there is an offer and you can consider it as a challenge. Because she said that the drug war is a failure, but then she backtracks when I said it seems that she is divorced from the realities on the ground. And I cited, why the drug war was a success? For one, there were millions of surrenderees; number two, we have dismantled so many drug factories/illegal drug factories; number three, there have been rehabilitation centers where we placed all those drug addicted individuals; number four, there were buy bust operations that resulted in the killing of drug pushers and those involved in the drug because they resisted arrest and placed the lives of the police officers in peril.
Another thing, according to General Albayalde with respect to police scalawags involved in drug/illegal drug trafficking, there were buy bust operations and it resulted into 124 policemen killed who resisted arrest. So it’s a success.
Not only that, we had billions of pesos worth of shabu confiscated. If you cannot call that a success, I don’t know what is.
And so, since she was criticizing the drug war as a failure, and she said that we should take other measures… so the President said, “Okay, I will give you the opportunity to do what you want. Let’s see.”
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And you of course expect the Vice President to accept given what she had said?
SEC. PANELO: The ball is in her court. But if I were in her place, I would accept because this is a rare opportunity for a critic who would be given an opportunity to show her mettle and at the same time helping the government.
As we have repeatedly said, you cannot just keep on criticizing the government, you have to support it; you have to offer your own talent and expertise in solving the problems of the land. So this is one rare opportunity.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Comment: If she declines.
SEC. PANELO: If she declines, it only shows that it is not true that this war on drugs is a failure and that there should be more or other measures to be undertaken to stop it.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Alright sir, thank you.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Sir so to be clear about it, the President offered Vice President Leni Robredo the chance to prove her mettle because he was exasperated with her criticism or is he saying that Robredo can—might be able to do a better job than him?
SEC. PANELO: Both. As I said, whether it’s out of peeve or out of seriousness – believing in the capacity of the Vice President – it’s still an offer and a challenge at the same time.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Sir, with the President’s statement, is he saying that he cannot handle the drug problem?
SEC. PANELO: No. I’ve already cited to you the successes of the drug war, so how can you be even saying that he is failing in that.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: About the details of the task force or the commission that he is about to create.
SEC. PANELO: Ah, that will depend. Unang-una, kung hindi naman niya tinanggap, ‘di wala rin.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Hindi, pero in ano—in such a case, will it be different from say the PDEA or the PNP drug enforcement group or—
SEC. PANELO: We don’t know. We will be just speculating. She has to accept it first then the President will make the guidelines in the creation of whatever commission he has in mind.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: If she does not accept, what will be the Palace—
SEC. PANELO: O, eh ‘di wala. Tumahimik na lang siya.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: So if she does not accept, the Palace will tell her to just shut up?
SEC. PANELO: Not to shut up, as I said ‘di tumahimik ka kung hindi mo pala kayang gawin iyong kini-criticize mo.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Thank you, sir.
SEC. PANELO: Pareho din ‘yan ng commute challenge, tsina-challenge kami na mag-commute dahil hindi raw namin kaya. O ayun, eh tinanggap ko at pinakita ko sa kanila, apat na oras pa. O ‘di tapos ang usapan, ganoon lang iyon.
GENALYN KABILING/MANILA BULLETIN: Sir, the Vice President was interviewed last night in Iloilo.
SEC. PANELO: Last night? What was the reaction?
GENALYN KABILING/MANILA BULLETIN: And she has apparently declined to comment on the offer ‘cause she doesn’t know if it’s serious. Sabi niya—
SEC. PANELO: Baka naman pinag-iisipan pa. Let’s give her the benefit of the doubt.
GENALYN KABILING/MANILA BULLETIN: Sabi niya, “Mahirap patulan kasi hahaba ang usapan.” She’d rather focus on her work daw.
SEC. PANELO: O, ano pa bang—exactly nga, work nga ‘yon eh. When you criticize something and you have your own plans and thoughts about it and you are given the opportunity, then grab it. Grab it.
GENALYN KABILING/MANILA BULLETIN: So sir, is the President’s offer serious or was it just a bluff?
SEC. PANELO: No. Hindi ba sabi niya susulatan niya pa nga. Eh papaanong—kung hindi ka seryoso, ba’t mo susulatan?
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, if ever the Vice President changes her mind and accepts the offer of the President, what can she expect from drug enforcement agencies?
SEC. PANELO: Oh, if she’s on top of the situation, then the agencies under her will be supportive of her because that is a direct mandate from the President of the Philippines.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Thank you, sir.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Sir, good afternoon. From the Office of the Vice President din po last night, magre-respond lang daw po sila pagka mayroon nang—natanggap na nila iyong formal letter. So, kailan po balak i-send?
SEC. PANELO: ‘Di hayaan mo sila muna.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: So, wala pa po ang letter? Hindi pa pinapadala?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi pa.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Kasi it will show the seriousness of the President about his offer.
SEC. PANELO: Kung ako ang Bise Presidente tinanggap ko kaagad iyon. Call! Hmm sige, give me that commission, give me the staff, give me the resources and I’ll do what I think should be done. Ganoon lang kasimple iyon. Pero kung hindi mo kaya, eh marami kang eche-bureche na eh wala pa iyong ganito, wala pa iyong ganiyang, mag-antay muna ako. Either you have it or you don’t.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: So, serious offer po, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Eh sus naman, mayroon bang hindi serious na ina-announce mo nationally?
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Siyempre sir, formality din po ‘di ba?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi na kailangan iyon. Eh kung hindi siya interesado, eh ‘di ba’t pa itutuloy ng Presidente?
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: So, what does the President or Malacañang expect from the Vice President to resolve within six months—
SEC. PANELO: Nothing. We don’t expect anything from her unless she says so.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Pero sa six months na ibinibigay ng Pangulo, ano ‘yung ini-expect sa Vice President na ma-accomplish po?
SEC. PANELO: Eh, we will be speculating. Alam mo, iyong mga tanong na ganiyan hindi na nga dapat sinasagot iyon. Kasi ‘pag you ask anong expectations, siyempre palaging expectation maganda. Kailangan bibigyan mo ng benefit of the doubt one who is assuming a position.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Ang binabanggit po kasi ng critics, iyong three years po ng Duterte administration hindi po na-resolve totally iyong… the drug menace.
SEC. PANELO: O hindi ba sinagot ko na nga ‘yan eh. Ang dami na ngang tagumpay na—I cited figures and facts. Alam mo iyong mga kritiko, iyon lang ang trabaho nila – otherwise hindi sila critics.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Sir, may ilang senators nag-express ng apprehensions given na, kahit sabihin nating six months, six months pa rin po iyon. Like for example po si Senator Dela Rosa sinabi po niya, “I don’t want our country to become another Mexico so PRRD should tighten his grip on the drug situation instead of leasing his power to anybody who has no proven track record in crime fighting.”
SEC. PANELO: He’s entitled to his opinion.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Should they give Vice President Robredo benefit of the doubt?
SEC. PANELO: Yeah, we should always give everybody the benefit of the doubt. You cannot be giving judgments na wala pa namang…
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: So, it’s better to give her a chance muna before they make such statements?
SEC. PANELO: Well, it’s a free country; everybody is entitled to express one’s opinion.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Thank you, sir.
GILLIAN CORTEZ/BUSINESS WORLD: Hello po, sir. Sir, I know it’s just an offer by the President but has he—does he have any plans to discuss this with the House Speaker and the Senate President? Because according to the Constitution, he can only transfer his powers to the Vice President—
SEC. PANELO: He is not transferring power, let me correct you there. He is creating a commission and the head of that will be having powers as granted by the law.
GILLIAN CORTEZ/BUSINESS WORLD: O sige, thank you for the clarification sir.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Hi sir, good afternoon. Sir, ano po ‘yung plano ng Malacañang o ni Presidente, bibisitahin ba niya iyong mga biktima ng lindol sa Central Mindanao considering sir na second na ito, ‘yung first hindi yata siya nakabisita?
SEC. PANELO: I think that should be in the agenda of the President. Knowing him, he’s like that.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: So ano sir, magdadagdag ba siya ng calamity fund or ano ba iyong immediate na plano?
SEC. PANELO: Palagay ko everything is in place eh, iyong mga quick reaction agencies, they’re in place. In fact bilib nga si Presidente ‘pag may ganiyan, ‘pag nagkakaroon ng situation meeting napupuri niya eh.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: So possible na bago siya pumunta sa Bangkok sir, bibisita siya?
SEC. PANELO: Puwede rin.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Okay sir, thank you.
SEC. PANELO: Unless the doctors tell him, “Huwag ka munang lumipad.”
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, but the President naman was here ‘no when the Davao quake happened, he’s in Manila ‘no or is he there?
SEC. PANELO: Kagabi?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Oo, sir—ay kanina lang—ay, nasaan ba siya sir ngayon? Nasa Maynila naman?
SEC. PANELO: Oo.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay. Sir ano lang, for soundbyte purposes lang, you’ve issued a statement on the Davao quake. But for TV purposes lang, Palace statement on the quake, as far as the victims are concerned, any statements for them?
SEC. PANELO: Well, the President is concerned with what happened in the latest earthquake in Mindanao and he wants to—or he has directed all the agencies to provide assistance to the victims of the earthquake and continue with their usual reaction to situations such as this one.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, doon sa water concessionaire, water looming crisis ‘no. Yesterday the President was talking about using extraordinary powers of the President, but I understand the context was Kaliwa. But for clarification, when the President said he’s going to use his extraordinary powers with regard to the water crisis, is he suggesting or is he thinking of a government takeover of the water concessioners?
SEC. PANELO: Yes he said, “I will assume control,” so that means as government takeover.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And, what is the intention?
SEC. PANELO: To solve the crisis. ‘Cause he said, “If you cannot solve the crisis, then I will do it for you.”
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay. This is of course legal ‘no, it’s public utilities may mga—
SEC. PANELO: Yes, of course.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Can we elaborate on the legal basis?
SEC. PANELO: The legal basis is always when—you know, the provision of the Constitution is very clear – the President’s primary duty as head of state of the government is to serve and to protect the people. So any situation arising that will endanger or imperil the safety of the people, then the President has to take over.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And, at what point does he make the decision that we will—the government will takeover the—
SEC. PANELO: That’s his call. If he feels that there is now a need for that, then he will do it.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: As of now, wala pa tayo sa decision point?
SEC. PANELO: He hasn’t said so, but he said “I will take over if there is a need for it.”
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Alright sir, thank you.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Secretary, what would be the scenarios that would warrant such takeover?
SEC. PANELO: Eh kung grabe na iyong water crisis, kung wala nang tubig tayong naiinom. ‘Di ba sabi niya kagabi, “I will not allow people not drinking water.”
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: So ‘pag walang tubig, would it involve iyong—kung may problema iyong serbisyo iyong—
SEC. PANELO: Kasama lahat iyon, services. Eh kung talagang wala na tayong naiinom na tubig, wala nang pampaligo eh may problema talaga tayo.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: So, who would decide?
SEC. PANELO: The President.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: But, who will assess whether such conditions are met?
SEC. PANELO: The President receives briefer from everyone concerned, so—
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: So, iyong water authorities din po?
SEC. PANELO: Yeah.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Eh, what about iyong sa side ng MWSS as a government regulator, ano ‘yung accountability nila?
SEC. PANELO: Then if they have violated the law, they will be prosecuted.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: So, a takeover of water concessionaires; and sa MWSS, will there be a revamp?
SEC. PANELO: Kasama na siguro lahat iyon, kasi if you take over control of the entity, ‘di lahat iyon kasama.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Hindi, kasi sa private iyong tinutukoy kanina Sec. eh; iyong sa government, kailangan ba magkaroon—
SEC. PANELO: Eh kasama iyon, kasi kung pati government institution hindi rin maka-solve ng problema, o ‘di ibig sabihin kailangan baguhin mo rin iyong nasa loob.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Thank you, Sec.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir iyong… ano lang, para lang hindi sa amin galing. We’re talking about legal basis ‘no, so public… I’m trying to run a search on the Constitution, give me 2 minutes. Ito sir, Section 17 under… is that the power that you’re referring to? Article 12, Section 17: In times of national emergency, when the public interest requires it, the state may during the emergency or under reasonable terms temporarily takeover or direct the operation of any privately owned public utility or business affected with public interest – that’s the power you’re referring to? So national emergency situation – so there has to be a declaration first that there’s a national emergency?
SEC. PANELO: Yes, he will declare.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So that will be the steps, right? If he does declare a national emergency, then the government will takeover. That’s the scenario?
SEC. PANELO: Yes, correct.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Thank you.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Sec., clarification. So, gaano katagal bago mag-decide si President whether to takeover iyong utilities or mag-revamp sa water—
SEC. PANELO: Eh tingnan natin how the situation evolves or develops.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Walang specific timeline? Say six months or mga ganoon?
SEC. PANELO: Wala naman, dahil depende nga sa sitwasyon. Kung—baka suddenly bukas wala na tayong tubig, o bakit ka pa maghihintay ng another week to decide.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Okay, salamat Sec.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Sir sorry, clarify. Ano lang po kahapon, sa speech po ni President Duterte. Tinatawagan niya po iyong Congress na i-abolish iyong Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission. Eh ‘di po ba na-create po iyon through Executive Order noong 1999? Pupuwede niya pong mismo siya na ang mag-abolish through an EO? So, why is there a need po to call the Congress po to abolish?
SEC. PANELO: Did you say it was created by Congress?
MPC: EO, Executive Order.
SEC. PANELO: Ah… Then he can abolish it.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: So, we expect the President to issue an EO abolishing PRRC?
SEC. PANELO: If he so desires.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Okay sir, thank you.
SEC. PANELO: Now we have a guest from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Director Cesar Gilbert Adriano of the National Library of the Philippines. He will talk about the 29th Library and Information Service Month. Can we call you?
DIR. ADRIANO: Thank you, Secretary Panelo. Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat! Ako po si Cesar Gilbert Adriano, actually, I’m from the National Library of the Philippines (NLP).
With me is Father Harold Rantoria, the Commissioner for Cultural Heritage under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); Ma’am Emma Rey – the President of Philippine Librarians Association Incorporated; and Madame Prudenciana Cruz, the former Director of the National Library, is now the head of the National Commission for Library Information Services.
So, we are here to ask for your help for the dissemination and to inform the general public that every November we have what we call the Library Information Service (LIS) Month. So, the celebration of the Library Information Service Month started in 1992 when President Corazon Aquino signed Proclamation 837 declaring November of every year that it is the Library Information Service Month, under the auspices of the National Library of the Philippines and the National Committee on Libraries and Information Services of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts.
The aim of this LIS celebration is to promote awareness about the different services offered by libraries. Our aim here is to develop a unified calendar of activities for libraries, generate interest about libraries and their services, and discover the best practices of outreach services available in various libraries across the Philippines.
We, the National Library of the Philippines is mandated to promote the public for the awareness of the LIS month and the invaluable services that the libraries and information centers render to the public.
In 2018, the NLP spearheaded the LIS month and our theme last year ay ang “Kulturang May Malasakit, Sa Silid-Aklatan Ay Makakamit.” So this year, the NCCA- NCLIS, the NLP and the Philippine Librarians Association Incorporated and other stakeholders will work conjointly in spearheading the commemoration of the 29th LIS month.
Our theme for this year is, “Inclusive Innovative and Interconnected.” We continue to encourage the people to participate in the LIS month through various activities and interactive storytelling… those are our activities—outreach programs, social media contest and many more. With this, I shall now present to you the activities with the help of our staff from the National Library, Rica.
RICA: Good afternoon! So, I’ll now be presenting the programs and activities of the National Library of the Philippines together with the Philippine Librarians Association.
So, NLP division offices will conduct different library activities such as this basic bookbinding workshop, basic cyber security awareness, film showings, and orientation and training for newly affiliated public libraries and allocation of resources.
Also, we have collaborative activities together with [unclear] like social media contest, storytelling contest – librarians category; book diorama contest, librarians’ got talent; and the highlight of all of this contest is the 2019 search for outstanding public libraries.
So, this search is an annual activity which aims to focus on the invaluable programs and services that libraries render to the community particularly in the special programs and outreach services on Malasakit to the different sectors in the community and to recognize the librarian’s role in order to make them more cognizant, zealous, committed and dedicated to their functions and responsibilities.
Also, different public libraries around the Philippines have their own activities, so they are encourage to conduct activities like with the Kaban ng Hiyas Aklatang Kongresyonal, they have a training workshop in entrepreneurship. Also, Bayambang Municipal Library they have an interactive storytelling workshop. From Muntinlupa City Library, they have public library makers face circuit challenge; and even almost all public libraries around the Philippines they have their own activities.
The Civil Service Commission, Commission of Higher Education, Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Education were also requested to issue memorandum circulars to encourage more public involvement for the LIS month celebration. And to further promote the 29th LIS month, the NLP prepared the souvenir programs, flyers and creation of LIS month social media page which contains detailed information about the LIS month contest and activities and unified calendar of activities.
Also, the NCCA- NCLIS prepared the layout and design of the 29th LIS month posters and tarpaulin for distribution to different offices, libraries, and institutions. Government agencies are also requested to install streamers in their offices for the whole month of November. The NCCA- NCLIS with the help of NLP shall also produce the 2019 LIS month infographics which will feature different facts on Philippine libraries, librarians and other information centers. This will be shared online and on the social media handles of both agencies to further promote the celebration and raise more awareness to the public.
We hope, with the help of the media, the general public will be aware of the celebration of the LIS month every November. Let’s cooperate to make this celebration a successful event every year.
Thank you very much and God bless you all!
USEC. ROCKY: Okay, thank you. May question, MPC? Okay na? Ace Romero. Sino pong puwedeng sumagot?
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: In general lang po. So curious lang how—paano naka-affect ’yung social media use or ‘yung online sa library use?
RICA: Okay. Medyo nahirapan ako kay sir. Of course, since the theme of this year’s LIS month is “Inclusive, Innovative, Interconnected,” so, one dilemma nga po of the libraries today is ‘yung sinasabi ni sir na the internet medyo nakakaapekto talaga siya. But of course, marami pa rin po kaming researchers na ang gusto pa rin is actual na book or actual na mga resources ang kailangan. So, mas marami po iyon, actually.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: So, library use is not dying naman despite ‘yung online—
RICA: Of course not, sir, of course not.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Okay. Thank you
USEC. ROCKY: Okay. Questions? No more? Okay, thank you. Thank you po sa ating mga bisita. Thank you.
###
SOURCE: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau)
