The Palawan Chamber of Commerce unanimously condemned the recent spread of false information about allegedly cases of Corona virus in the province.
This includes reports that there were spotted Persons Under Investigation for the said disease staying in Sunlight Hotel and in Unitop Mall, and same scenario in the town of El Nido, to which are all false.
In an approved resolution No.3 Series of 2020 passed by the Chamber dated February 13, they want the public not to believe at first in any messages telling them not to go the mentioned places as precautionary measures. These information are not factual and were not even verified. This also caused panic to the public and damage to the businesses in the province.
“To remind the general public to exercise critical thinking and sobriety in the evaluation of messages or articles found in social media and not to fall prey, to the thoughtless practice of forwarding unverified messages, instead the community is strongly advice to verify with the proper government authorities any matter of current public concern,” the resolution said.
The full statement of Palawan Chamber President Jeff Armedilla reads:
“Dahilan sa kasalukuyang pagkabahala ng mga mamayan at pinsala na naidudulot sa ekonomiya ng Palawan dulot ng walang batayang mga mensahe at atrikulo sa social media at internet, ay pinapa-alala sa lahat ng mamayan na maging mapanuri at maingat sa pag-forward o share ng mga mensahe o babasahin sa internet. Pinapakiusap po na usisain at lubos pag isipan mung beripikado o makatotohanan, kapani-paniwala o may saysay ang anumang mensahe o kasulatan bago ito i-share sa social media, upang maiwasan ang kaparusahan ng batas at higit sa lahat ay upang hindi makapagdulot ng kaguluhan at pinsala sa komunidad at ekonomiya.
Ang pagkakalat ng mga hindi beripikado na mensahe sa social media ukol sa terrorismo, n-cov virus at ibang kaguluhan ay nakakasira ng kapayapaan, ka-ayusan at ekonomiya. Mahalin natin ang ating bayan at protektahan laban sa pagkalat ng fake news at messages.”