A long-time dream was realized this week when I became part of an orientation program in Cauayan, my hometown.
The program was the launch of the Barangay Information and Outreach Network, an initiative of the Philippine Information Agency to ensure and strengthen the speedy delivery of timely, accurate, reliable and relevant information to target communities.
Having spent the early years of my professional life with the Department of Public Information, the predecessor of the PIA, I have long been an advocate of the use of information and communication to advance the concept of development.
It was in my PIA stint where I strengthened and honed my writing skills that led me to pursue higher education in journalism.
The BION launch — on Aug. 28 — was significant to me as it became a fruition of what I had long-planned with my former student, Easter Anne Doza, now PIA assistant regional director, of forming and empowering a network of information officers in the grassroot level.
That plan was fast-tracked with the help of another former student, Marie June Pavillar-Castro, former Silay City Councilor and now an executive assistant at the Governor’s Office and action officer of the Provincial Gender and Development Focal Point System.
Marie June paved the way for the conduct of the launch through the Offices of Mayor John Rey Tabujara and Vice Mayor Anna Liza Soriano.
Thanks, too, Marie June, for facilitating the Capitol sponsorship of the training’s food requirements.
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PIA-6 Director Cheryl Amor, who is the concurrent director for Negros Island Region, said in her talk, that the activity “marked another step toward the strengthening of the LGU’s information network.”
The organization of the network, she further said, “changes the landscape of public information services” as it expands to the grassroot level.
Cauayan is the 10th LGU and the second municipality after La Castellana, that became part of the network, which has been already set up in the cities of La Carlota, Bago, Kabankalan, Cadiz, Victorias, Bacolod, San Carlos and Sipalay (where it was launched on Aug. 27, the day before the Cauayan activity).
All 25 barangays in Cauayan and 17 in Sipalay were represented in the network launch activities where participants pledged their commitment to serve as designated BIOs. Director Amor officiated the pledging rite.
Cauayan PIO Fulgen Balinas represented Mayor Tabujara in the program. In Sipalay City, Efren James Lim, executive assistant and city information officer, welcomed PIA officials, Director Amor and Information Officer Paulo Pajarillo, who gave an overview of the Network objectives, functions and directions in both Sipalay and Cauayan programs.
Lim spoke in behalf of City Mayor Gina Lizares.
City Local Government Operations Officer Celso Nuñez explained the DILG memorandum governing the functions and operations of BIOs. In Cauayan, LGOO Joy Valla was represented by Analiza Espinosa.
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Also held in the Cauayan launch were an orientation on the PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG services. Social Security System programs were added to the Sipalay activity.
Later that day in Cauayan and Sipalay, Marie June called on grassroot information officers to help promote greater gender and development awareness in the community.
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During my talk, I emphasized the invaluable values of information as they bind communities together, drives local growth and, much more today, helps keep people safe and ready in times of emergencies.
Through information, people get to understand programs designed for the growth of communities and understanding begets cooperation and support.
Information, I reminded the BIOs, is not only a tool for empowerment, it is also transformational.
Hopefully, as Vice Mayor Jing told the Cauayan participants, capacity-building initiatives will be implemented to ensure the growth and sustenance of the network.
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In the afternoon, I had the opportunity to talk before 80-plus school paper advisers of elementary and high schools from four school districts in the town who are responding to the challenge posed by NIR-DepEd.
The education department is calling on them to start and strengthen campus journalism program in their respective schools. A wider field is open to sow the seeds of journalism education.
I’ll write about the afternoon session in the near future.
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And we urge you, brothers and sisters… encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (I Thessalonians 5:14) | NWI
