BY JOVE!

UNFORGETTABLE EXIT

UPDATE: FEBRUARY 12, 2007

I was about to update this entry, as promised, when I read the PDI’s take on the matter (thru Amando Doronilla)… they hit the nail right on the head, so instead of writing my opinion about the matter, Ill simply direct you to their piece: (here are some of the quotes, though! RIGHT ON, PDI!)

Earlier, she was asked what she thought was her biggest frustration about the economy. She replied: “I don’t think about frustration, I only talk about blessings.” She added that the reason economic gains had not been reflected in surveys showing the prevalence of poverty was “you guys keep writing about negative things.”

The answer is all wrong. The press is not responsible for the survey findings.

This matter of negative and positive news is at the bottom of the conflict between media and the presidency over management of the news, which the President wants to control to cast her government in a positive light. It strikes at the heart of the function of a free press to hold the government accountable on any important public issue, not excluding economic issues.

Economic issues are necessarily political issues. The President has asserted that it is her prerogative to decide what is positive news and what is negative. This is unacceptable to the press. Bye Bye Love hd
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Her answers to reporters’ questions reveal a dangerous mind-set that, when translated to political action, has produced a series of policies and decisions resulting in restricting press freedom.

These policies have led to (1) linking the press to political conspiracies seeking to overthrow the government; and (2) to failure of government to halt the wave of extrajudicial killings of journalists during the past six years, of which the government has washed its hands. It has set the tone for impunity from prosecution.

Economics is ‘safe’

The President’s statements define issues that the government considers taboo to journalistic inquiry. They send the message that, first, economics is “safe,” provided that the press does not mix it up with political and even social issues (involving equity); and, second, it asserts the power to define what is positive and negative news.

Through her statements, the President has exposed to the press and her critics that she is weak on these issues. She has claimed that the economy is her forte. This is not so. The question of who gains or loses from economic growth should be pounded by the press. The answers could expose the emptiness of this claim.

+++

(5pm FRIDAY)

No time to blog about the incident yet.

But here’s a transcript of what happened during the two on one PGMA exit interview of the two Philippine Daily Inquirer palace reporters. (the two will be covering other beats starting next week)

You should also watch the early and late evening TV newscasts for the actual video of the incident.

Christine Avendano: [UN reps coming]

PGMA: aren’t you supposed to follow up on the subject matter? (about the topic she discussed during her round table discussion)

Christine Avendano: [called for special session?]

PGMA: Yes I am because there were some legislation already in very very advanced stage. For instance yung credit information that’s very impt marami diyan pag
humihiram dahil sa dami paperwork.. with the credit info bureau since they can
only log on the computer and find out how your track record is.. coz
the small enterprises complain a lot. coz There’s money available, we’ve been
able to make the (___- market?) very liquid but it’s the red tape. That’s one example of the bills that are almost there but if we start again from scratch in the next session, what a pity. All that we’ve worked for in the last 2 years would have gone to waste. Maybe Feb 19-20. Bec it’s really mostly ratification.

Gil Cabacungan: [madam pres what do you think is the biggest source of
frustration for you?]

PGMA: I don’t talk about frustrations, I only talk about blessings (laughs)

Gil Cabacungan: [how come the blessings of the good economic data you've been saying all along has not trickled down?]

PGMA: We just talked to Mrs. … she can feel it bec she buys her ingredients are lower priced. And what about
the transportation..

Romulo Neri: and our january inflation ma’am, 6 year low.

Gil Cabacungan: [but these aren't coming out in the surveys]

PGMA: bec you guys keep writing the negative things. I wish you would write about the jeepney fare went down by 50 centavos and then the gasoline how
many times it’s gone down. Things like that.

Gil Cabacungan: [don't you think there's a structural gap in the
economy that needs to be corrected ma'am]

PGMA: well to begin with it’s only now that finally turned the corner on the economy and it’s only now this year that we were able to do the economic reforms all the things we
need the infra that would bring investments to be able to have the jobs that the
people need
Gil Cabacungan: [bec madam pres the biggest criticism of the Phil
economy is too much wealth is concentrated on too few people?]

PGMA: That’s the reason why we’re concentrating on pro-poor programs…

Gil Cabacungan: [do you think you've addressed that in your term?]

PGMA: I hope to maybe my incoming chief of staff can answer that bec he’s an expert economic analyst but what we hope to do, we hope to have more education, we hope to close the classroom gap for grade school, we hope to provide water in every town,
we hope to provide electricity in every barangay, we hope to have maybe 85% health insurance coverage, things like these, these are the things we are aiming for before the end of my term.

Joey Salceda: In short the biggest structural gap before was a non-responsive
budget. now lahat po ng mga programa ng gobyerno para yung naipon na
pera eh magtrickle down na kailangan talaga govt spending..

PGMA: And how are we able to achieve this and yet reduce our budget
deficit bec it’s all coming from interest savings

Gil Cabacunga: [but isn't it a concern for you ma'am that the
billionaires during the time of marcos and ramos are also the same
billionaires..]

PGMA: those are political questions Gil. (stands up) Thank you that’s the end
thank you. I said it’s follow up here thank you. And good luck to you in
the senate and in the defense. Ok thanks. (leaves room)

+++

[bumalik si gma sa briefing room, looked for Gil who was then having a conversation with me, Jove and Joey Salceda]

PGMA: “We will not grow rich by pulling the rich down but by pulling the poor up.”…bringing up everybody else. That’s… spread the wealth that way. Anyway there’s also that strategic … that’s my answer to you.

Then she leaves again. Smiling.

(Thanks to Gina B and Sef for the transcript)