CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – The 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division in partnership with the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) Journalism Institute held a 2-day Media Safety Training, in connection with the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) 2023, at the 4th Division Training School, Camp Osito Bahian, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on October 14-15, 2023.
The training was a collaborative effort between the 4ID and COPC Journalism Institute, supported and funded by the Hanns Seidel Foundation Philippines, which aims to equip media professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to prepare for coverage safely and what to expect and how to appropriately react when covering in critical situations/events such as elections, accidents and armed conflicts.
A total of 26 media personalities coming from Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, and Bukidnon actively participated in the different lectures discussed by civilian and military Subject Matter Experts such as Personal Safety, Tips on VIP Protection, Basic First Aid, Security Checkpoints, and Weapons and Explosives awareness with various actual scenarios that were done to test and assess the learnings of the media participants.
Mr. Froilan O. Gallardo, a journalist, member of the Board of Directors of the COPC, and member of the Multi-Sector Advisory Board (MSAB) of 4ID, said that the training is timely as the election draws near in which the media play a vital role in providing accurate and timely information to the public. He added that this training will ensure journalists can perform their duties effectively without compromising their safety.
“We thank the 4ID for conducting such training for the 7th time around. It is the only military institution to conduct a training intended to intensify awareness on personal safety of their media partners covering critical events,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hanns Seidel Foundation Philippines Program Officer Ms. Caroline Lee, expressed her profound gratitude to 4ID leadership for the overwhelming support and comprehensive preparation that contributed to the over-all success of the activity. She hoped that said training increased the participant’s awareness to ensure safety while on news coverage. She also expects that the participants would share to their fellow media practitioners all the lessons they have learned from the training.
In his message, Brigadier General Michele B. Anayron Jr., the Commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, who represented the 4ID Commander Major General Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II during the Closing Ceremony, stated that the training is a manifestation of the 4ID’s commitment to ensuring that media practitioners can carry out their work without undue risks.
“The 4ID recognizes the vital role of the media in upholding transparency, accountability, and public awareness during significant events such as the elections. It is through this Media Safety Training that we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening our ties and ensuring your safety while performing your duties. We do hope that you carry with you the learnings that you gained during this 2-day activity,” He said.
