PECOJON helps journos affected by super typhoon

CEBU, Philippines - A Cebu-based non-government organization has been helping journalists affected by supertyphoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas region.

The Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON), an international non-government organization whose roots are traced in the Philippines with country networks in Indonesia, Myanmar, East-Timor, Cambodia, Germany and the UK, has helped establish an emergency community radio station in Tacloban City.

Radyo Abante 98.7 FM, dubbed “one radio-one community,” is a pure public service station that operates in Tacloban and reaches nearby Eastern Visayas communities.

The station, operated by PECOJON in partnership with First Response Radio, opened January 13, 2014 and is set to run until March 31, though PECOJON chief of operations Ledrolen “Len” Manriquez revealed  they intend to extend to another three months of operations seeing the need to continue bridging the gap between the survivors and the institutions willing to extend help.

Prior to this, First Response Radio operated similar station that ran from November to December 27 last year.

“This is not a commercial station wherein several program formats are used. Broadcasters listen to concern and needs of the community. They can either go to the station or through other people. The station, then, records these needs and channel it to the right partner agency which can be of help,” Manriquez told The Freeman.

Eight media practitioners, one technician and seven broadcasters, affected by Yolanda operate the humanitarian radio whose primary goal is to record concerns and needs of the community severely affected by the super typhoon serving as the bridge to both the affected and the humanitarian agencies.

“Initially, we were looking at hiring only five. But since we received eight applications, we made arrangements with our budget to accommodate them all since we know they in dire need,” Manriquez explained.

She added that the establishment of the emergency response radio hits two targets: Provide immediate livelihood and help get new permanent jobs for those whose media outfits could no longer resume operations.

Apart from this, PECOJON has assisted displaced journalists to let them continue with their profession despite the tragedy  that led to loss of home and even lives of loved ones through brand new and second hand laptops among other equipment.

Two community  newspapers, which halted operations due to the natural calamity that  hit the region, were also assisted through partner agencies and willing journalists from all over the country.

San Juanico News received equipment and operational cost assistance wherein PECOJON and partners agencies shouldered the printing cost of the maiden issue since the storm up to at least four months.

Similarly, Eastern Visayas Bulletin also got equipment and operational cost augmentation.

“I will be bringing the first issue of San Juanico News in my coming trip to Tacloban. Eastern Visayas Bulletin has yet to produce its issue since their publisher is sick,” Manriquez said.

She added that they made the community newspapers understand that they must get advertisers for the next issue to make the operation sustainable since the assistance from the NGO is for a limited period.

Data from PECOJON showed that 138 media practitioners from both broadcast and print media were affected by the super typhoon in Eastern Visayas.

Of these, six died and one is still missing as of  February records. — (FREEMAN)