Media Coverage Accreditation for the SONA2008

Source: Public Relations and Information Department


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  1. Is media accreditation for the 2008 SONA coverage mandatory?
    • YES, media accreditation for the 2008 SONA coverage is absolutely mandatory. Only those wearing the 2008 SONA Press IDs will be allowed inside the premises of the Batasan Complex. The NO ID, NO ENTRY policy shall be strictly enforced.
  2. Where, when and how can media apply for accreditation?

    The Committee on Media of the House of Representatives (HOR) Task Force created to assist in the preparation for the Joint Session of Congress for the President’s SONA is responsible for media accreditation and Press Card issuance.


    • MALACAÑANG, SENATE AND HOUSE PRESS CORPS
      1. The members of the respective Press Corps of Malacañang, Senate and House of Representatives (HOR) are not required to apply for accreditation for the event. They shall automatically be accredited.
      2. The Office of the Press Secretary-International Press Center-Media Accreditation and Relations Office (OPS-IPC-MARO), Senate-Public Relations and Information Bureau (PRIB) and the HOR-Public Relations and Information Department (PRID) shall prepare and submit before 10 July 2008 to the Chairperson, Committee on Media of the HOR Task Force the following: 1. List of their respective accredited media persons, officers, staff, and contracted workers (technical crew members, caterers, make-up artists, etc.) - indicating their requested individual ID color code/designated area of assignment and plate numbers of OB vans and vehicles to be used for the event. 2. Duly accomplished media accreditation form with 2X2 photograph of each individual in the list - now required by the Committee on Presidential Honors and Security for its security database.
    • NON-MEMBERS OF MALACAÑANG / SENATE / HOUSE PRESS CORPS
      1. All media persons, including FOCAP members, representatives of other media agencies, provincial media persons and crewmembers of Malacañang/Senate/House TV/radio reporters, who are not in the lists of accredited media persons submitted by Malacañang, Senate and HOR, are required to apply for accreditation.
      2. Beginning 01 July 2008, applicants for accreditation shall apply personally or on-line with the Committee on Media, NCR-F (PRID office) 2nd floor, North Wing, House of Representatives, Constitution Hills, Quezon City (Contact / see Dir. Celine Marie F. Buencamino - Tel. No. 9316177 or 9315001 local 7469 or 7489, Fax Nos. 9320062/9315967/9315335), E-mail address: HORmedia.PRID@gmail.com.
      3. The application forms for accreditation and car pass may be downloaded through the HOR website: www.congress.gov.ph/sona2008.
      4. Whether applying personally or on-line, the applicant must submit his duly accomplished accreditation form together with his 2X2 photo, proper credentials and letter of assignment from his/her media organization editor / network manager.
    • The Press Cards shall be claimed from the Committee on Media on 23-26 July 2008. The members of the Press Corps of Malacañang, Senate and House shall secure their Press Cards and vehicle passes from the OPS-IPC, Senate-PRIB and HOR-PRID, respectively.
  3. When is the deadline for filing application for accreditation?
    • The non-extendible deadline for filing application for accreditation is 15 July 2008. There will be NO last-minute accreditation and issuance of Press IDs on the day of the SONA.
  4. What should a media person do if he/she lost his/her SONA 2008 Media ID before the SONA?
    • Press Cards are non-transferable and cases of lost Press ID should be reported immediately to the House Committee on Media.
  5. What do the color codes on the 2008 SONA Media ID card stand for?
    • Media color codes for the SONA 2008 Media ID, which are applicable for the afternoon Joint Session and not for the morning session, are indicated in the ID cards for seat or area of assignment as follows:

    COLOR VENUE MEDIA
    VIOLET
    Trailing from the President’s arrival at the Rear Entrance going to the Plenary Hall - First Gallery Landings and Back Portion of the Floor near the Soundpit
    In-house crew/close-in coverage team of Malacañang, Senate and House
    LIGHT BLUE
    Plenary Hall (Only at the North Second Gallery Media Seats)
    Media VIPs, Malacañang, Senate, House Media and FOCAP reporters and other media with assigned seats (seated)
    GREEN
    Plenary Hall (Only at the North and South Second Gallery landings)
    Photographers and TV crew members and other media except for Phil. Broadcast Pool (standing)
    PINK
    Plenary Hall (Only at the VIP Upper Deck)
    Official members of the Phil. Broadcast Pool c/o RTVM, Pres’l. Photojournalists Asso. (PPA), pool of two (2) personnel per TV network (one (1) cameraman and one (1) VTR or light man), pool of one (1) photographer per national broadsheet / tabloid, and one (1) photographer or cameraman per FOCAP agency (standing)
    YELLOW
    Plenary Hall (Only at the Radio Booth beside the lighting control next to the Third Gallery North)
    Radio reporters and broadcasters with their technicians (standing)
    ORANGE
    All access but without reserved seats at the Plenary Hall
    For OPS-on-site MROs, OPS technical and support staff and OPS attached agencies, OVP / House / Senate MROs (standing)
    DARK BLUE
    All access but without reserved seats at the Plenary Hall
    Pre-positioned accredited media representatives / standuppers / media representatives doing ambush interviews (standing)
    NO COLOR
    No access to Plenary Hall
     

  6. Is there a limit to the number of vehicles of media organizations to be issued car passes?
    • YES. Priority for the media vehicle pass shall be given to press vehicles ferrying media personnel, OB vans and vehicles carrying media equipment and broadcast facilities. A car pass is non-transferable and void if altered.
  7. Can media persons with car passes park anywhere at the Batasan grounds?
    • NO. Only the press vehicles with the appropriate parking passes will be allowed to park inside the House complex on a first-come-first-serve basis.
    • With prior coordination with RTVM, the designated parking areas for OB vans and radio vans are at the left and right wings in front of the main entrance of Batasan building.
  8. Is there a dress code for media persons covering the SONA 2008?
    • YES. Since this is a State Ceremony, proper decorum and protocol shall be observed. Media persons to be posted inside the Plenary Hall are advised to wear appropriate attire (Barong Tagalog, suit or long sleeves shirt with tie for the men and appropriate dress for the ladies). Only the media representatives who are stationed outside the Plenary Hall may wear smart casual.
  9. On the day of the SONA, can media persons go straight to his/her designated area?
    • NO. An accredited person has to go through the following procedure for media reception for an orderly and systematic ID validation, registration, and distribution of SONA kits.
    1. PROCEDURE FOR MEDIA RECEPTION
      1. MEDIA ENTRY CHECK DESK
        Operational from 6:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
        • Security directs media person to Media Entry Check Desk.
        • Media Relations Officer/ Coordinator asks for accreditation ID and media group of media person (whether Malacañang/ HOR/ Senate Press Corps/ Other Media Sectors/ Guests).
        • Media Relations Officer/ Coordinator counterchecks ID with master list. If the name is in the master list, MRO/ Media coordinator requests media person to proceed to North Entrance and Media Reception Desk.
        • If there is a problem (i.e. forgot/ lost/ no ID), the House Committee on Media-Accreditation Team deals with the Media person and decides on the action to be taken.
      2. MEDIA RECEPTION DESK (back of the Medical Clinic)
        Operational from 8:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
        • Media person approaches appropriate desk (Malacañang/ HOR/ Senate Press Corps and other Media Sectors).
        • Media Relations Officer/ Coordinator counterchecks name, ID number and color code with the master list.
        • If okay, Media Relations Officer/Coordinator puts validation sticker, requests media person to sign at the space provided for in the master list/ attendance sheet, and hands over his/her SONA kit and meal ticket, if any.
        • If there is a problem, the House Committee on Media-Accreditation Team deals with the media person and decides on the action to be taken.
        • Whenever necessary, the media person is requested to proceed to the Security Desk, for security tagging of media equipment.
      3. PLENARY HALL
        • Security/ Protocol Officers check if the Media ID of the media person has validation sticker and with proper color code.
        • If okay, Protocol Officer ushers media person to his/her designated seat/area. If ID is not yet validated, Protocol Officer requests media person to proceed first to the Media Reception Desk.
    • Note: Media designated areas and seats at the Plenary Hall shall be available on a first-come-first-served basis. Please be advised that all doors of the Plenary Hall will be closed at exactly 3:30 p.m. for the President’s SONA. Media representatives are also requested to stay at their designated areas or at the Media Center during the ceremonies.
  10. Is there a prepared media kit for accredited media persons?
    • YES. Upon registration, the media person will be given the SONA kit containing the following:
      1. Materials from the Office of the President
      2. Accomplishment Report for the First Regular Session, 14th Congress of the Senate and the HOR
      3. Updated directories of Members of the Cabinet, Senate and the HOR
      4. Opening Speeches of the Senate President and the House Speaker for the Second Regular Session, 14th Congress.

    Directions for possible access to a live webcast of the SONA may be found at the OPS website.

  11. Are there designated areas for television coverage? Where are these areas located?
    • Television ENG Crews (including foreign broadcasters) will be positioned at the VIP Upper Deck. Only two personnel per network will be allowed to access this area (two cams or one cam and one VTR man or light man). No reporters or standuppers will be allowed in this area.
  12. Are there any special restrictions on television and photo coverage activities?
    • Standuppers will not be allowed inside the Plenary Hall and inside the Batasan Building after the morning session is adjourned. Instead, they will be provided roped-off areas at the Main Entrance, the grassy area fronting the Main Entrance, and the South Lobby.
    • “Ambush” interviews will only be allowed at the roped off interview areas at the right and left sides of the Main Lobby adjacent the restrooms and at South Lobby up to 3:00 P.M. only and resumed only after the President has left the Plenary Hall and Main Lobby.
    • At 3:00 P.M., the Presidential Security Group and the House Security will clear the passageway of the President from the Rear Entrance to the Main Lobby of all cameras, media equipment and media interviews.
    • Installation of microwave equipment at the tiled roof of the building will no longer be allowed, as advised by the authorities of the House of Representatives.
    • Photographers are refrained from using camera flash.
  13. When will the set-up activities for television and radio coverage be scheduled?
    • Set-up activities for television and radio are suggested to be done on July 25, 26, and 27, 2008 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively). RTVM crew will be present on these days.
  14. Will there be available telephone lines for the radio reporters?
    • The HOR-PRID will provide and assign, through drawing of lots by radio reporters, to radio stations telephone lines at the Radio Booth, 3rd Gallery of the Plenary Hall. The radio stations shall provide for their own telephone receivers or handsets.
  15. Can accredited media persons use the House Media Center?
    • The House Media Center will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on the day of SONA. The HOR-PRID Media Coordinators will be on hand to assist reporters, operate the TV monitor and distribute copies of the SONA after the event.
    • Due to the expected big number of media who will cover the event, print reporters are advised to bring their laptops / notebooks if they intend to file stories and dispatches at the House Media Center.
    • The Senate Media Room is located at the TV Room fronting the Press Center, House of Representatives. The Senate-PRIB officials and staff will be on hand to assist the Senate Press Corps.
  16. Will food be served to accredited media persons?
    • The Malacañang Press Corps and Media officers/staff and the FOCAP members will be served food at Room 4 of the Ramon V. Mitra Bldg., HOR Complex.
    • The Senate Press Corps and Media officers/staff will be served food at Room 5 of the Ramon V. Mitra Bldg., HOR Complex.
    • The House Press Corps will be served lunch at the HOR Media Center.
    • Coffee, drinks and biscuits will be served to accredited media persons the whole day at the Coffee Area located at the HOR Media Center.
  17. Can an accredited media representative take with him/her a cell phone inside the Plenary Hall?
    • Except those authorized for live radio (at the Radio Booth) and TV broadcast arrangements, media representatives are advised to switch-off cell phones, beepers, radios and other communications equipment so as not to distract the live proceedings.

FOR INQUIRIES CONTACT THE FOLLOWING
  1. MS. MA. BERNADETTE C. DELA CUESTA
    Executive Director, Public Relations & Information Department (PRID)
    Chairperson, Committee on Media, HOR Task Force SONA 2008
    T/F: 932-0062, 931-5001 loc.7651
  2. DR. CELINE MARIE F. BUENCAMINO
    Director, Media Affairs Service, PRID
    Team Leader, Media Accreditation
    Committee on Media, HOR Task Force SONA 2008
    Tel: 931-6177, 931-5001 loc. 7469 / 7489
  3. MS. MYRNA M. BELMONTE
    Acting Director, Public Affairs Service, PRID
    Team Leader, Media Reception
    Committee on Media, HOR Task Force SONA 2008
    Tel: 9315370, 9315001 loc. 7490, Fax: 931-5967
  4. MR. FERDINAND M. BOLISLIS
    Director, Publishing and Design Service, PRID
    Team Leader, SONA Kit
    Committee on Media, HOR Task Force SONA 2008
    T/F-9315335, 9315001 loc. 7552