Adult social media users with 5k followers can cover Duterte events –PCOO

If you are 18 years old with a social media page that has at least 5,000 followers, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) can accredit you to cover President Rodrigo Duterte.

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar on Wednesday confirmed that he just signed Department Order No. 15 or the interim social media practitioner accreditation.

"The purpose of this Order is to provide an interim system of accreditation for social media participation in the  coverage of special events attended by the President, in order to generate news and information for the citizenry through social media platforms," Andanar said.

The number of followers required was adjusted to 5000 from the original 1,000 stated in the draft order released in February.

He said PCOO Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, a former performer and celebrity blogger, will handle the accreditation process.

Accreditation, however, will be given per event or activity only, the department order said.

Recently, the PCOO received flak from mediamen for accrediting lawyer Bruce Rivera, an avid Duterte supporter, to cover the ASEAN Ministerial Meetings.

Andanar said Rivera and several bloggers were accredited to cover the ASEAN events to help promote the meetings. —KBK/KVD, GMA News