DAVAO CITY – The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) launched two public service announcements directed by an award-winning director at a press conference yesterday at the Mandaya Hotel, here.
PCO Secretary Martin Andanar said that releasing the ads would increase the government’s reach in sending a strong message about the menace of being hooked on drugs.
Directed by well-known film director Brillante Mendoza and endorsed by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, will show two different scenarios.
The first setting is from an addicted father’s situation which will show him missing the important moments of her daughter’s life because of his addiction to illegal drugs.
The second one, this time about a mother doing multiple jobs abroad who sends money to his son without knowing about his addiction to drugs.
The 30-second anti-drug advertisements will be aired on TV and cinemas nationwide. The full-length videos, on the other hand, will be posted on the Presidential Communications social media pages.
“Kailangan nating iangat ang antas ng mga PSA dito sa ating bansa,” Andanar said.
Mendoza, for his part, said that he was happy that he was receiving full government support for the first time.
According to Andanar, the government will be releasing other forms of PSAs not just on the war against drugs, but also on other issues such as the peace process, transportation, and firecrackers, and will likely feature up and coming and award-winning directors, such as Mendoza.
However, Andanar said that the government will honor the talents by giving them their due fees under the budget of each department catering the advocacy.
Meanwhile, Andanar added that there will be audio versions of the ads to be shown later this week.
At the moment, ABS-CBN, TV5, MBC, DZRH, RMN, Brigada, Radyo ng Bayan, and the SM Cinemas have agreed to host slots on their respective mediums, at three slots after 9pm, Andanar said.
Andanar meantime is making an appeal for other mall owners to do their share. (Yas D. Ocampo)