RABAT, Morocco – The Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Wednesday signed a news-sharing deal with its Moroccan counterpart Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP).

Under this cooperation agreement, signed at MAP’s headquarters in Rabat, the two agencies agreed to allow free access to each other’s contents, including photos, audio, video, and infographics services, among others.

They also agreed to exchange visits and expertise in journalistic, technical and executive fields.

Philippine Ambassador to Morocco Leslie Baja and Director-General Khalil Hachimi Idrissi signed on behalf of the PNA and MAP, respectively, in a ceremony witnessed by Presidential Communications Operations Office-News and Information Bureau (PCOO-NIB) Director Virginia Arcilla-Agtay and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

PNA, the country’s official news wire, is under the helm of PCOO-NIB.

Arcilla-Agtay said the news agreement came at the best possible time as the PNA is in the process of revitalization.

“Although we have existing news agreements with other foreign news agencies and state-owned news agencies but the more news agreements we have, the more it would reinforce that vision to revitalize and bring back the glory days of PNA,” she said.

“This news agreement would really open doors for both Morocco and the Philippines to share stories of culture, challenges, and resilience, especially during the pandemic,” she added.

Noting how media influences lives, Baja is optimistic the deal could further strengthen the relations between the two nations, which are also set to hold the historic Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation on March 17.

Hachimi Idrissi noted that public media like MAP have the privileges to gather good and often exclusive information, which could help PNA relay reliable news not only on Morocco but also on Africa.

“We want to share information and stories, share best practices, and let maybe the journalists from the Philippines come to Morocco and visit the people and know more about our future and our position in the region,” he said.

“We have the responsibility to our two peoples, to populations to explain these countries and position in the region… This is the best gate to enter Africa,” he added.

Locsin welcomed the agreement, saying it would provide a good training ground for journalists assigned to press agencies like MAP.

He said the deal would also raise Filipino awareness on issues like climate change, with Morocco being Africa’s gateway.

“Africa is no different than the Philippines in its problems to which familiarity has bred indifference; reporting from Africa will open Filipino eyes to the reality they ignored back home,” he said.

The news deal is effective for three years and renewable for similar periods if none of the agencies sought to terminate the agreement. (PNA)