In the second installment of Reporter’s Notebook’s four-part anniversary series “Crossing Borders” tonight (Nov. 28), Jun Veneracion goes to Cambodia and Vietnam where he takes a look at the two countries’ mass transport systems.
In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the tuktuk or auto rickshaw is the common means of transportation. Diebe Wamar, an OFW who has been working in Cambodia for more than 10 years, has seen how the country has developed.
Motorcycles are considered kings of the road in Vietnam. There are about 50 million registered motorcycles here. At present, a metro rail system is being constructed in Ho Chi Minh City. Eng. Rene Flores, a Filipino, is one of the people involved in the project. He discusses how Vietnam is planning to meet its target to open their subway in the next few years.
Both Cambodia and Vietnam are working on expanding their roads and railways. How does the Philippines fare when compared with its neighbors?
Veneracion joined veteran reporter Maki Pulido in “Reporter’s Notebook” in 2018. He shares that becoming part of the award-winning program is an honor for someone like him who has been with GMA since 2003. As a senior news reporter, he has reported on armed conflicts, covered the defense beat, and followed stories on government agencies such as the Bureau of Customs.
“I feel proud to be part of this kind of program. [It’s a] different platform from reportorial [work] because Mondays to Fridays, I am a reporter. It’s really a big deal for any reporter to be part [of] such a multi-titled program,” says Jun. “Dito mo puwedeng ma-explore yung mga ‘di mo usually nagagawa. Yung ganitong documentary na mas mahaba, ang dami mong puwedeng gawin, [ang] dami mong puwedeng i-inject na ideas sa story,” he adds.
Jun says that his favorite part of doing a story for Reporter’s Notebook is what comes after the story airs. “When a certain government ofï¬cial, or kung sinuman from the private sector, would acknowledge na mayroong something [that] has to be done. Sa akin, ‘yun ang biggest reward,” he explains.
Watch “Crossing Borders” on “Reporters’ Notebook” tonight on GMA7.
