Friday, October 15, 2010

Media not part of the TWG

Boracay Island- Media is not invited by the Technical Working Group (TWG) on hostage taking crises to participate to their fourthcoming meeting with the 17 mayors of Aklan on October 22.

The media’s role are considered essential in the TWG but because of the indifference of the Aklan provincial government with the Aklan media. Imagine a hostage taking scenario in Boracay Island with the unmanaged media.

The media have not been properly informed about their role on the crises management module being worked upon by the TWG.

Senior Supt. Epifanio Bragais, provincial police director said the meeting will tackle the mayors’ role during hostage-taking scenarios.

Bragais said the media can only cover the said event but their participation in the proceeding is not important.

Considered as the first in the country, the meeting will be initiated by the provincial government of Aklan and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The province’s TWG was created after the hostage-taking incident in Manila on August 23 where eight Hong Kong tourists died.

According to Bragais, they do not want the same to happen in the province, especially in this resort island.

The Philippine Coast Guard, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Provincial Engineers Office, among other agencies, comprise the TWG.

The PNP hopes all the mayors will attend to the meeting.

Earlier, Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao Jr., Police Regional Office 6 director, said the PNP has made Boracay Island a priority area for implementing peace and order measures after the Manila hostage incident.

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