The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) on Monday, Oct. 10, said it is still studying if vloggers would be given accreditation to cover the Malacañang Palace events.
During the public hearing of the Committee on Finance for OPS’ proposed 2023 budget, Senator JV Ejercito asked OPS' newly-installed officer-in-charge (OIC) Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil if her office would still push through the accreditation of vloggers.
“Nag-umpisa po ito last administration at ipinagpatuloy po sya ng dating Secretary Trixie [Cruz]-Angeles. Ngayon po we will continue to conduct the study and evaluate kung pu-puwede po silang ma-accredit po sa pagco-cover sa atin sa Malacañang. So ongoing pa yung study po nito,” she said.
The accreditation of bloggers or social media practitioners was first introduced during the administration of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Back then, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) issued a department order granting them access to cover special events attended by Duterte.
When asked about the range of access of vloggers once they were granted accreditation, Garafil said they are still evaluating the matter and “in time” they would release a set of guidelines.
She was also asked how the OPS could ensure that the accredited vloggers would conform to “high moral standards”, considering that they are more “free” in posting and could not be held accountable, unlike the traditional media journalists that studied etiquette.
“Mr. Chair, kaya nga po talagang pinag-aaralan po natin ng mabuti kasi gusto natin mag-set ng parameters at saka mga criteria para ma-determine natin kung talagang maari silang i-accredit sa ating pagco-cover sa ating mga opisyal at sa Malacañang in particular. Kaya nga po we will also seek the guidance ng ibang mga sector para po mapag-aralan po natin itong mabuti,” Garafil explained.
Earlier, former press secretary Cruz-Angeles said accreditation of vloggers to cover President Ferdinand 'Bongbog' Marcos Jr. and Palace events would be pushed through.
She earlier said among the basis for accreditation would include a number of followers and social media engagements of the vloggers.
