Vice President Leni Robredo highlighted the importance of effective communication during times of crisis and calamities.
In an interview with Henry Omaga-Diaz on DZMM Teleradyo, the Vice President said that while she commended the efforts by AFP, PNP, and other government agencies who are performing their jobs, effective communication on the ground is as important.
“Alam natin na ginagawa ng mga kawani ng pamahalaan yung trabaho nila pero as important kasi during crisis situation yung effective communication,” she said.
She then mentioned the shutdown of the ABS-CBN regional network group which played a crucial role during calamities in the localities.
“Lalo pa Henry ngayon wala na yung regional network ng ABS na sa malalayo talagang lugar halimbawa sa amin sa Bicol, gaya nyan sa Tuguegarao yun yung inaasahan ng locals. Yun yung inaasahan ng locals na maging source of imformation nila, nawala yun,” she added.
From midnight on Saturday, Vice President Leni’s Twitter account has been the main source of information on the situation in Cagayan.
With the limited access of media to the province because of the 14-day quarantine visitors for all outsiders, people of the province defaulted to social media to ask for rescue and assistance.
As the VP said in the interview, even the government network PTV4 and NDRRMC website lacked information about Cagayan in the early hours of Saturday, November 14 when people are desperately crying for help.
Meanwhile, Robredo’s sentiment regarding the closure of ABS-CBN regional was also echoed by several netizens who blamed the 70 congressmen including 6 from the Cagayan and Isabela area for rejecting the ABS-CBN franchise resulting in the shutdown of all local TV Patrols and the regional network group.
“Some of those corrupt and incompetent representatives who voted to scrap ABS~CBN franchise were from Cagayan/Isabela provinces. Karma really is a beech!” @jackjedidiah
Some of those corrupt and incompetent representatives who voted to scrap ABS~CBN franchise were from Cagayan/Isabela provinces. Karma really is a beech!
— Jack JD (@jackjedidiah) November 14, 2020
“I don’t want this to be about ABS-CBN again, but now I hope our congressmen realize how crucial the Regional Network Group is especially during calamities!” @nickvillavecer
I don’t want this to be about ABS-CBN again, but now I hope our congressmen realize how crucial the Regional Network Group is especially during calamities!
— Nick Villavecer (@nickvillavecer) November 13, 2020
“Apparently, halos lahat ng mga representatives ng Isabela at Cagayan denied the ABS-CBN franchise. So ngayon yung mga constituents nila are asking for media coverage. #CagayanValleyNeedsHelp #IsabelaNeedsHelp” @krizzy_kalerqui
https://twitter.com/krizzy_kalerqui/status/1327295148510744577
“Mga walang puso,mga gahaman sa kapangyarihan,mga ganid sa pera! The closure of ABS-CBN’s RNG left a gaping void in information dissemination to the far flung areas of our community. Information that is crucial during calamities. These “lawmakers” killed our people. Murderers.” @crazymarchian
Mga walang puso,mga gahaman sa kapangyarihan,mga ganid sa pera! The closure of ABS-CBN’s RNG left a gaping void in information dissemination to the far flung areas of our community. Information that is crucial during calamities. These “lawmakers” killed our people. Murderers.
— Hazel 💔💚💙 (@CrazyMarchian) November 13, 2020
“The sad and frustrating about this is almost all of Cagayan and Isabela’s rep voted to deny the franchise and now we’re seeing tweets and posts that most sources of news in the place is from ABS-CBN. I meanz they should’ve known, right?” @shainnekish
https://twitter.com/ShainneKish/status/1327418995612368897
“At This time of Calamity We REALLY NEED ABS CBN for Update of news ! Sobrang Kailangan kayo ng Tao Para Sa News! 70 na TongCressista Saan kaya sila Ano kaya ang Ganap nila ! Sana naisip nila ,” @perez_jerzon
At This time of Calamity We REALLY NEED ABS CBN for Update of news ! Sobrang Kailangan kayo ng Tao Para Sa News! 70 na TongCressista Saan kaya sila Ano kaya ang Ganap nila ! Sana naisip nila ,
— Jerzon Perez (@perez_jerzon) November 14, 2020
“Noon may TV patrol cagayan valley. Lahat kami updated at handa. Ngayon wala. Bago pa man manalasa ang bagyo karamihan ay handa na. Sana maibalik ang ABS CBN talaga.” @preiislove
Noon may TV patrol cagayan valley. Lahat kami updated at handa. Ngayon wala. Bago pa man manalasa ang bagyo karamihan ay handa na. Sana maibalik ang ABS CBN talaga.
— Prei Vir Dee (@preiislove) November 14, 2020
