Davao City – The modern Mindanao Media Hub located along Carlos P. Garcia Highway (Diversion Road) in Davao City was formally inaugurated March 18.
The formal opening ceremonies were attended by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary for Mindanao and the Visayas Joseph Lawrence Garcia, Director of News and Information Bureau Director Gigi Arcilla Agtay, Director of Bureau of Broadcast Services Giovanni Aportadera.
The Guest-of-Honor was Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte.
“As the main source of government information it is not enough that the state-run media outlets have the best and the brightest media practitioners. Government media agencies must also be equipped with the latest facilities and equipment so that news and information reach the most number of people across the country on a regular and steady basis.”- Mayor Sara Duterte said on her speech during the opening ceremony.
“With this Mindanao Media Hub there will be easier coordination and sharing of correct and verifiable data across government media offices and this is vital because now, more than ever in this time of global crisis, information save lives,” the Mayor said.
After the ribbon-cutting and the unveiling of the ceremonial market, the Guest-of-Honor along with officials of the PCOO toured around the facility.
The six-storey MMH was a project envisioned by PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar and realized with the support of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and the Office of the President. It had its groundbreaking in May of 2018 and had its first broadcast in February 1, 2021.
“To date, the largest media facility in the Philippines outside Metro Manila and the biggest government media hub in the country by far,” PCOO Sec. Martin Andanar described the scale of the completed dream project during his recorded message at the inauguration.
“I also refer to the Mindanao Media Hub as the Build, Build, Build in communication legacy of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Indeed a well-informed citizenry reflects a well-informed government,” PCOO Sec. Martin Andanar said in his message.
Sec. Andanar said aside from MMH other hubs are being built across the country and to be completed within the term of this administration.
“Soon to rise is the Visayas Media Hub in Cebu,” the PCOO Secretary said.
“As you celebrate this momentous occasion may you as government media continue to keep our people empowered through an unbiased, credible, truthful reportage” President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said in his recorded message for the event.
The P700-million Mindanao Media Hub serves as the main communication hubs of Regions 10,11,12,13 including the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Moslem Mindanao). It is equipped with 10-kilowatt terrestrial transmitter, 1-kilowatt digital transmitter, four studios with production control. The facility will enable the production of tailored content for the regions and also can serve as a broadcast center for emergency situations.
Aside from Peoples Television and Philippine Broadcasting System, the Hub will also serve as offices of PCOO and its attached agencies such as the Philippine News Agency and the Philippine Information Agency. (RG Alama, Philippine Information Agency | Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao OIC)