This Week in Media (January 24 to 28, 2022)

Omicron cases spread; presidential bets face the media

ON THE pandemic front, media reported this week the pilot run of vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11 to start on February 4 and the approval for public use of two self-administered test kits by the Food and Drug Administration, with 31 applications for the registration of other test products still pending. 

Other developments included the IATF’s studying the downgrading of the Alert Level in the capital to Level 2, following the downward trend in COVID cases and in hospital occupancy. Health Secretary Francisco Duque said cases in NCR may have already peaked, although DOH acknowledged the surge in 13 regions, classifying those at “critical risk.” 

Media also reported that the latest genome sequencing data have identified Omicron, both the original lineage and its two sublineages, as responsible for most cases in the provinces. The DOH said the Omicron variant is causing milder cases compared to the Delta variant, and noted the effect of vaccinations in reducing the risk of hospitalization.

Unfortunately, the coverage of pandemic-related issues remains in passive mode for most reports as journalists await what officials have to say. With the increase of cases in the provinces, journalists have not checked vaccination data to establish the extent of coverage outside the NCR. If areas “at critical risk” show insufficient vaccine coverage, then the agencies responsible should do something about it. Recent surveys by the Social Weather Stations and OCTA Research have pointed to a decrease in vaccine hesitancy. Journalists have not followed up on issues that continue to hold back vaccination rates in the provinces.

ABS-CBN’s vaccine tracker shows that as of this writing, only in the NCR have more people been vaccinated beyond the target population. Other regions, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao, are at 60 to 70 percent coverage, but the Bangsamoro region is severely behind, with only 25 percent of its target population covered.

Meanwhile, the Transport department maintained its implementation of the “no vaccine, no ride policy” in the capital, giving workers until February 25 to have themselves vaccinated. After this date, unvaccinated and partially vaccinated workers would no longer be allowed on public transport. 

Journalists have not checked how local governments plan to expedite inoculations for this sector, which includes both workers in government and in private institutions. Media have not followed up with LGUs, government agencies or representatives of the private sector to check whether they have assured vaccination slots for their workers.

---

Elections

The Commission on Elections unveiled on January 25 the final ballot forms containing the official list of candidates. Ten candidates are running for president, while nine are running for vice president.

Media also started holding presidential interviews, with Jessica Soho of GMA-7 coming ahead of the line. Citing Nielsen ratings, GMA reported that the program, aired on January 22, was the most watched during the weekend. 

Prior to the interview, reports had followed the decision of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. to decline GMA-7’s invitation, accusing Soho of being biased against him.

Marcos Jr. was supposed to do a live interview with the ALC Media Group through radio station dwIZ and its streaming channel in the morning of January 25. But on the day of the interview itself, the hosts announced on Facebook that they could not stream live due to “bandwidth” limitations. They opted to record the interview instead and air it unedited later in the day. 

Marcos Jr.’s live appearance was on ONE News in the evening of January 25, during which he was asked to explain what bias meant for him – which he defined as being “anti-Marcos.” The interviewers did not challenge what he had to say.  Neither did they point out the folly of a candidate’s presuming that being anti- anything if based on factual evidence may not necessarily be a form of bias.  The program also missed the opportunity to ask those tough questions on issues surrounding the Marcos family legacy that need to be answered.

Other news organizations that picked up the answers of Marcos and other presidential candidates only repeated soundbites from the interviews, without providing context or other sources to speak on the issue of “bias.” 

Meanwhile, Commissioner Rowena Guanzon of Comelec’s First Division went live on Facebook twice, on January 19 and 26, without prior notice to her followers. Philstar.com reported that “In both times, she discussed arguments in the petitions and the processes of the division, but did not state her vote on the case.” The First Division is deciding on the petitions to disqualify Marcos Jr. Guanzon’s term as commissioner ends on February 2.  

In an exclusive interview with GMA News on January 27, Guanzon revealed, in an unprecedented move, that she voted to disqualify Marcos Jr. She made the announcement ahead of the First Division’s promulgation on the cases. She also said her vote might have caused the delay in the release of the ruling, hinting at external forces attempting to influence the Comelec decision. In interviews with Rappler and CNN Philippines, Guanzon said the ponente was already incommunicado.

Guanzon added that she has submitted her draft opinion on the case before leaving her post for retirement this February. 

---

Frequencies of ABS-CBN

Creating a bit more of a stir were reports that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) had assigned frequencies previously held by ABS-CBN to Advanced Media Broadcasting System, a company owned by Manny Villar. Aliw Broadcasting Company and Apollo Quiboloy’s Sonshine Media Network International also got the digital TV channels that used to air ABS-CBN’s programs.

Journalists reported reactions from critics who said the deal was in favor of Duterte allies. But the National Telecommunications Commission claimed the reassignment was “aboveboard,” and that the companies that obtained the frequencies were the first in line in digital broadcast applications. So far, there has been little analysis of any legal issues raised by the NTC decision. 

Media have not explained what this issue means for ABS-CBN, except to say that it is unlikely that the media giant would regain its old frequencies. Clearly, there are more questions that need to be asked and more sources who must come forward and speak on this development.