No vacuum created sans ABS-CBN in disaster information – Palace

November 2, 2020

Malacanang said on Monday there was "no vacuum" created with the closure of ABS-CBN's free television and its radio stations in disseminating information about the disasters, including Super Typhoon "Rolly," that hit the country.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, during the televised press briefing of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Quezon City, said that the government's communication infrastructure, such as the PTV4 and the Philippine Information Agency, has been working.

"I think there was no vacuum and the private news agencies are also there. The TV5, GMA-7 and the brave, excellent, industrious radio reporters are there. So, I think there was no communication vacuum," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte's allies in the House of Representatives junked last July the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, resulting in the closure of its free TV and radio stations.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano, in the same briefing, underscored the need to improve communication in time of disasters.

He lamented the government's difficulty in communicating with the officials of Catanduanes after Rolly struck the area on Sunday.

Communication lines bogged down. The national government was only able to communicate with Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua on Monday afternoon through the satellite phone of the military.

"One of the things that we should improve is the communication system...one of the things that we should revive is the radio communication aside from the satellite communication," Ano said. Celerina Monte/DMS