𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐔 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍, 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆
𝑮𝒐𝒗. 𝑷𝒂𝒎: ‘𝑨 𝑪𝒆𝒃𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝑪𝒆𝒃𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆’
Cebu’s information officers are being called on to help ensure that accurate information reaches the public as the provincial government works to combat misinformation and promote reading among students.
The call came as the Capitol, in partnership with the Cebu League of Public Information Officers (CLPIO), launched two initiatives on Thursday during the “Communicate Cebu: Information Officers Congress” at the Capitol Social Hall.
“Our response cannot simply be to fight every negative story. Our responsibility is to make sure that truth is available, accessible, and strong enough to stand against misinformation,” Gov. Baricuatro said during her speech.
The campaigns, one focused on combating fake news and disinformation and the other on promoting reading among students, seek to strengthen the province’s information and literacy efforts.
Gov. Baricuatro and information officers from Cebu’s cities and municipalities signed a commitment board for a “better-informed Cebu” during the second and last day of the congress.
Held for the first time, the congress brought together Cebu’s information officers for a two-day program aimed at sharpening their skills in communicating government programs, policies and projects to the public.
𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀
Directed against the proliferation of fake news that muddles public discourse, Provincial Information Officer Ainjeliz de la Torre-Orong said the Capitol, in coordination with CLPIO, would launch a province-wide video competition featuring campaigns against misinformation.
The contest will be open to interested participants and will be promoted through LGUs. Each legislative district will select one winning entry to represent it at the provincial level, where the winners will receive prizes.
De la Torre-Orong said the rules have already been prepared and would be announced soon.
“𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗮 𝗧𝗮, 𝗖𝗲𝗯𝘂”
The second initiative, “Basa Ta, Cebu,” aims to encourage students to read and develop stronger reading habits.
De la Torre-Orong said the Capitol, through the Provincial School Board, would purchase a mobile library to be placed under the Provincial Information Office.
Once a week, the mobile library will visit a school in the province, in coordination with the LGU information officer and the Provincial Youth Development Office, and conduct reading activities with students to help them discover the joys of reading.
Gov. Baricuatro said the reading campaign could also serve as a long-term defense against misinformation.
“A Cebu that reads is a Cebu that thinks. And a Cebu that thinks is much harder to deceive,” Gov. Baricuatro said, adding that she was particularly excited about the program for students.
Alvin Duazo, information officer of Consolacion and president of CLPIO, thanked the governor for organizing the first-ever information officers’ congress, an initiative he said local information officers had long been seeking.
“These two campaigns are more than just joint initiatives. It is our promise to the Province of Cebu. As we walk alongside Governor Pam’s vision, let us protect the truth with unwavering resolve and inspire our people with genuine passion,” Duazo said. | CAPITOL PIO
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