“Magandang na-highlight [sa Philippine Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists] hindi lang iyong physical risks, but also, iyong gender-based safety, gender-based violence, and psychosocial safety, kasi iyon iyong mga hindi masyadong napapansin.”

(It is good that the Philippine Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists highlighted not only physical risks but also gender-based safety, gender-based violence, and psychosocial safety, as these are generally underreported.)

UP Baguio Outcrop Editor in Chief Jan Pearl Eazyre Reyes shared this as a key takeaway from the first day of a safety training, which underlined the significance of the Philippine Plan of Action as a document that aims to help address threats and attacks against journalists.

Reyes is one of the twelve participants from the Cordillera Administrative Region and Ilocos Norte who participated in the Community-Based Training of Trainers on the Safety of Journalists at Ating Tahanan National Program and Training Center from April 7 to 13, 2024.

During the opening of the training, a moment of silence was observed for Cordillera veteran journalist and Northern Dispatch Editor in Chief Kathleen Okubo, a martial law survivor and staunch press freedom advocate, who passed away on April 7.

Protecting and upholding press freedom underpinned each of the sessions in the safety training. Participants, who included media practitioners and campus journalists, learned how to respond to physical threats and attacks, legal issues, digital security challenges, psychosocial problems, and gender-based safety concerns.

The resource persons were Ms. Rowena Paraan of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Mr. Red Batario of the Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD), Mr. Joseph Ben Deveza of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)/Xavier University, Atty. Frank Lloyd Tiongson of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), Ms. Samantha Nicole David of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Atty. Josalee Deinla of NUPL, and Ms. Julie Alipala of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI).

The safety training was implemented by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) and funded by the UNESCO International Programme for Development Communication (IPDC) and the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines.