PIOs' role in campaign for food, energy sufficiency cited

CEBU - A public information officer in each city and municipality is very important because they supply all information to the public on what is happening in their respective local government units.

During the Kapihan sa PIA yesterday, information officers discussed how can PIOs serve as advocates for food and energy sufficiency towards peace and security.

The Regional Association of Development Information Officers (RADIO-7) in Central Visayas was scheduled to hold their 18th Consultative Conference in Cebu starting yesterday until tomorrow under the theme: “Information Officers: Advocates for Food and Energy Sufficiency towards Peace and Security.”

Invited key speakers to the RADIO conference event include Presidential Management Staff secretary general Cerge Remonde, Deputy National Security Adviser Luis “Chavit” Singson and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Nelson Ares, president of Cebu Association of City and Municipal PIOs stressed they chose the theme due to the present crisis that the Filipinos are facing.

Ares explained that the theme was chosen to address the global rice shortage, escalating oil price, and global financial economic meltdown, among others.

According to him, information officers must have additional knowledge and skills to inform the public what the government is doing to address these problems.

Francisco Obedencio, president of Association of United Development Info Officers in Bohol said that in their province, they are initially organizing a community information network to train information officers on their particular tasks. They attend seminars, taught how to edit and write news, feature and editorial, among others.

“Depende lang sad kung unsa siya ka-dedicated ug ka-expert sa trabaho ug unsa sad ka-reactive or proactive ang mayor,” said Eliseo Manlangit, president of Association of Negros Oriental Public Information Officers.

Ares, Obedencio and Manlangit are planning to pass a resolution as soon as possible to encourage the LGUs to have their own information officers as they are the frontliners in providing informing the public.

The public should be informed of the thrusts of the mayor as well as the Sangguniang Bayan, Ares added.

The speakers also cited the role of PIOs in bridging the gap between the people in the grassroots areas and the national government, and serving as access for the services to be delivered to the people.  — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/WAB (THE FREEMAN)