𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐋 𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒
The Cebu Provincial Government is helping information officers of local government units (LGUs) deliver accurate, timely and clear information to the public amid the growing influence of social media.
The initiative is expected to aid LGU information offices improve crisis communication, digital content production, and public information campaigns, particularly in countering misinformation and ensuring that government programs and services reach their intended beneficiaries.
At least 40 LGUs are participating in the two-day “Communicate Cebu: Information Officers Congress”, which began Wednesday, Aug. 12 at the Capitol Social Hall.
Organized under the direction of Gov. Pamela Baricuatro, the event carries the theme, “Strengthening Creative Public Information and Digital Communication.”
Provincial Information Officer Ainjeliz de la Torre-Orong said Gov. Baricuatro recognizes the important role and responsibility of government communicators in making public programs understood and accessible to the people.
“Gov. Pam believes man gud strongly in the power and responsibility of government communicators. She understands that even the best government program means little if the people do not know about it, do not understand it, and do not know how to access it,” said de la Torre-Orong.
The congress features sessions on crisis management by veteran journalist Connie Fernandez-Brojan, former editor-in-chief of the now-defunct print edition of Cebu Daily News; mobile journalism by Joeberth Ocao, managing editor of GMA 7 Regional TV’s web portal; and videography by Idden de los Reyes, co-founder of 8thumbs Production Inc., who was known for his work as director of photography on Huwebes Huwebes, a Cebuano film nominated for Best Picture at the Gawad Urian Awards.
Other sessions include basic social media poster design by Marianne Cañete; and fundamentals of photojournalism and visual storytelling by Juan Carlo de Vela of Sunstar-Cebu.
𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐨: 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰
Provincial Administrator Atty. Ace Durano lauded the initiative, noting the crucial role of government information offices in keeping the public informed about government programs and actions.
“For government leadership to be effective, the public must know what the government is doing for the people,” Durano said, adding that misinformation and fake news thrive when the right information is not supplied, making the government ineffective in the eyes of the people.
“That is just the nature of democracy. For us to inspire the public, the public must know what we are doing for them,” he said. | CAPITOL PIO
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