Diño says gov’t to deploy 42,000 barangay reporters

Interior Undersecretary Martin Diño on Saturday said the government will recruit at least 42,000 barangay news reporters soon.

"Si (Communications) Secretary Martin Andanar, may project kami na ilulunsad. Magkakaroon ng reporters, 42,000 reporters na tuturuan ng barangay journalism," Diño told Super Radyo dzBB.

He said the barangay reporters will be responsible in ensuring government transparency at the barangay level.

He said the recruitment of barangay reporters is part of the government satellite network (GSN) project of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

There are a total of 42,036 barangays in the Philippines as of February 2018, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In a memorandum circular released in December 2017, the DILG said public information officers from the provincial down to the barangay level will undergo a citizen journalism training that will be provided by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Diño said that the PCOO has already set aside a budget for the implementation of the program. —ALG, GMA News