CEBU CITY, August 15 (PIA) -- The government is eyeing to construct a media hub in Cebu that will house media facilities for the Visayas region.

This is what Presidential Communications and Operations Secretary Martin Andanar disclosed after he received a report that the Mindanao media hub is more than 90 percent finished.

"The promise was once we completed the Mindanao media hub, then we start the Visayas media hub," explained Andanar.

He said the start of the construction will likely take place in 2021 as they still need to find the budget to allocate for the project.

Andanar said the media hub in Mindanao, which they plan to open in December, will inspire Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to even push for the Visayas media hub because of its fresh features.

The Mindanao media hub is a six-storey state-of-the-art facility constructed under the Duterte administration in Davao City that aims to reach wider and effective information dissemination in the entire Mindanao.

With this media hub, it will accommodate agencies and units under PCOO such as Philippines News Agency (PNA), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), People's Television Network, Philippine Broadcasting Service, National Printing Office, and APO Production Unit.

StratComm Training Academy

With the Duterte's legacy and the "Build, Build, Build" program, Andanar announced that the Department of Budget Management approved the budget and the concept of the governmentment strategic communications training academy.

"It will be up for deliberation to the Congress and Senate and by next year, hopefully, we will start constructing the academy," he added.

The training academy will be built on a two-hectare property in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon that was donated by Mayor Clive Quino for a usufruct for 25 years.

"Communications in the entire government should be operating under one paradigm," Andanar said, as he pointed out the absence of a communications academy in the government that can serve as a training ground for government information officers.

The academy is seen to have its own community TV and radio and social media news desk as well as dormitories.(fan/PIA7)