On Wednesday, April 13, journalists once again stressed the importance of ABS-CBN during times of calamities after tropical storm Agaton devastated the Visayas.
Agaton resulted in floods and landslides, with casualties in Baybay City, Leyte reaching 36. The current death toll in the province has already reached 76.
During the onslaught, ABS-CBN’s regional reporters ccovered the calamity as revealaled by Kapamilya reporter Anjo Bagaoisan.
These journalists became stringers or no longer regular staff due to the Network’s shut down in 2020.
TV Patrol’s top story since Monday has been the floods in Leyte, filed by the once reporters of our regional station (now stringers) who are there on the ground. On Tuesday, it was a live report from Baybay City itself.
(Stories in the thread) https://t.co/jLJXppv9FH pic.twitter.com/snM7OJjb1b
— Anjo Bagaoisan (@anjo_bagaoisan) April 13, 2022
He then posed this question: “Nagpa-patrol, nasa frontline, nakatutok and media, pero bakit tila ‘di umabot ang balita sa publiko?”
Bagaoisan then explained that news has been harder to disseminate because of “fragmented media,” “social media,” and “ABS-CBN’s shutdown.”
Maybe what we should ask is: Nagpapatrol, nasa frontline, nakatutok ang media, pero bakit tila ‘di umaabot ang balita sa publiko?
Some possible answers:
-Fragmented media (not all watch/consume the same thing now)
-socmed algorithms/bubbles
-oh yes, may media na sadyang nilimita— Anjo Bagaoisan (@anjo_bagaoisan) April 13, 2022
Journalist Barnaby Lo then stressed that if the Duterte Administration did not close ABS-CBN, there could have been a local news team delivering crucial information.
ABS-CBN would’ve had a local news team there had it not been shut down by the Duterte administration. Its regional stations were crucial during times like this but they were one of the first casualties. I hope supporters of the shutdown realize this now. https://t.co/sZSMbs7WOi
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) April 12, 2022
He also wondered that instead of the government’s presence being sought by the public, it was the media.
Also, bakit media unang hinahanap imbis na gobyerno?
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) April 12, 2022
Rappler reporter Lian Buan hoped that people would realize the importance of institutional media.
Despite ABS-CBN’s limited resources and being franchise-less, it still managed to cover Agaton’s rampage.
Prinz Magtulis also reminisced how important having the largest broadcasting network deliver news, especially during disasters.
ABS-CBN had the largest regional network, and was a vital source of information during calamities.
Until the Duterte gov't and its allies in Congress shut it down.
Now, this. Devastated provinces not getting enough coverage. We've seen this also late last year. https://t.co/5ziv5GKdOD
— Prinz Magtulis 프린즈 (@prinzmagtulis) April 12, 2022
Personalities also shared their opinion and regretted since ABS-CBN was sorely missed during Typhoon Odette and Rolly’s wrath.
Limited ang galaw ng ABS-CBN dahil sa ginawa ng mga pulitikong nagpasara sa network.
Please don’t take it against ABS-CBN.
— Justin Dizon (@iamjustindizon) April 13, 2022
ABS-CBN Regional had an originating TV station in Tacloban and an affiliate in Calbayog. ABS-CBN Tacloban also had its Eastern Visayas edition of TV Patrol. Could have helped a lot in information dissemination and relief efforts mobilisation. #LeyteNeedsHelp https://t.co/ui512agV14
— Je (@ImNotthatScary) April 13, 2022
Over P134 million worth of crops, poultry, and livestock got damaged by Agaton. It affected 4,435 farmers based on the initial reports of local government units (LGUs) to the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas.
