Australia backs media peace initiatives in Mindanao

Davao City (21 April) — Australian Ambassador Tony Hely affirmed Australia’s commitment to support initiatives of media practitioners in Mindanao to promote peace reporting.

Joining in at the end part of the Media Roundtable Discussion Wednesday held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, Hely recognized media practitioners in Mindanao as partners in pursuing Australia’s development priorities anchored on poverty reduction.

Poverty reduction development priorities of Australia is focused on improving governance, stability and security and assisting rural poor—concerns which Hely viewed as “intertwined”, each affecting the other.

In Mindanao, Australia places particular focus on peace and development, strengthening basic education, developing human resources, technical support to agrarian reform and rural development, people’s participation, malaria prevention, adolescent reproductive health, assisting Muslim education and assisting rural poor.

Hely mentioned about support to media initiatives to come in through Australia’s development focus on establishing stability and security especially in Mindanao.

Addressing the media to the discussion, he took the opportunity ” to reaffirm Australia’s continuing commitment to the Philippine-Australia cooperation to lasting peace.”

As Australia continues to reach out to more partners, it embraces the media sector and has selected it “as a major partner in Mindanao because of the similarities between Australia and the Philippines.”

“We both have very active and articulate media sector that promotes multiculturalism, peace and development,” he said.

“These similarities make perfect partners for Mindanao’s efforts towards peace and prosperity. Most of all, Australia recognizes the important role of media in every aspect of our societies,” he added.

During the roundtable discussion, leading media practitioners from various parts of Mindanao shared their experiences in covering conflict situations particularly those involving government troops and Moro rebels.

There were those who pointed out Manila news desks responsibility over sensationalizing conflict stories regarding Mindanao that painted mind a grim perception among readers that is a “war-zone” area.

But they eventually came to a realization that media practitioners in Mindanao had in some way or the other contributed to this misperception about Mindanao.

Organizing the roundtable discussion, Efren F. Elbanbuena of the Philippine Information Agency 11 gave his word to conduct succeeding media discussions on peace reporting in Mindanao. (PIA/JMDA)