Aklan info officers gird for more effective stance as development communicators

Kalibo, Aklan – After joining the three-day seminar-workshop on Media Techniques and Community Communications Training in Iloilo City, Aklanon government information officers now say they can do their jobs better and more effectively, having enhanced their skills and knowledge on the different aspects of communication.

Conceived by the Philippine Information Agency in Region 6, the seminar-workshop, held from September 17 to 19 of this year netted a total of 73 participants from the different provinces of Western Visayas, 10 of whom came from Aklan.

The participants came from national government offices and local government units, either holding permanent positions as information officers or designated to perform as such while having a different position in the agency or LGU.

According to PIA Visayas Assistant Director-General and Regional Director Atty. Ma.Janet Mesa, the seminar was held in recognition of the need for the effective dissemination of information about the many good things that the government has done for the people to inform them and at the same time educate them on good governance – and communicate hope and enthusiasm for people to be active participants in the process.

“The PIA recognizes this need and has always considered information officers as partners in the pursuit of making government responsive. In this task, Information Officers/Community Development Information Officers need to cope, continue learning and ready to unlearn and re-learn as they do so”, Atty. Mesa said.

The seminar had modules like Communication Theories/Process lectured and discussed by Atty. Mesa; Trends in Journalistic Writing and Other Skills Cum Media Relations given by University of St. La Salle Bacolod Professor Allen V. del Carmen; Radio and TV Broadcasting lecture-workshop given by WVSU Professor Carmencita Robles; and Community Linkaging/networking/assemblies and media dialogues discussed by Ms. Grace Agoncillo, PIA Human Resource Officer/UNICEF Consultant which made the government information officers understand their roles better as communicators of development in their respective places.

A designated information officer in an Aklan municipality who attended the PIA seminar for the first time is now emboldened to enhance his town’s bulletin board with pictures of his town’s development projects, now knowing the importance of letting people know what the government is doing for them. After participating in a TV program workshop in the seminar, he now knows the basic knowledge on TV production, and is eager to learn the other aspects in TV broadcasting.

All participants from Aklan expressed eagerness to join another seminar organized by the PIA if another opportunity arises. Aklan participants came from the DTI, Philhealth, Metro Kalibo Water District, DepEd Altavas, and LGUs of Madalag, Altavas, Kalibo and Lezo.

Alongside the seminar-workshop for government IOs, the PIA also facilitated a seminar workshop for campus paper advisers, also attended by more than 40 participants from all over Western Visayas in the same venue, Iloilo Grand Hotel, of whom 6 came from Aklan schools. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)