MANILA, Philippines — In a move to counter disinformation and fake news, a lawmaker on Thursday urged the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to set up a “one-stop-shop” website containing information related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, who previously chaired the House Committee on Public Information, said the website shall serve as the single source of accurate government data and other relevant information regarding the pandemic.
The website should likewise contain all issuances, updates, notices, advisories, instructions, and other relevant information from all government agencies such as the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Reports of President Rodrigo Duterte on measures in response to the pandemic should also be available on the proposed website, said Herrera-Dy.
“While the initiatives of various government agencies in disseminating information relative to COVID-19 are commendable, there remains a need to counter disinformation and the spread of fake news, which hamper efforts to contain the pandemic,” the lawmaker said in a statement.
Further, Herrera said that the DICT would also be tasked to identify the most useful data and collect them in one place.
“Apart from disinformation and spread of fake news, there is actually too much information coming from too many sources. This problem will be addressed if the DICT will set up a single website for information relative to the COVID-19 crisis,” she added.
Section 6 of Republic Act No. 11469 or the “Bayanihan To Heal As One Act” penalizes individuals or groups perpetrating and spreading false information regarding the COVID-19 crisis.
This includes information “having no valid or beneficial effect on the population, and are clearly geared to promote chaos, panic, anarchy, fear, or confusion.”