PIA-7 gets new director

CEBU, Philippines - The new director of the Philippine Information Agency in Central Visayas is eyeing more linkages with the private sector through public-private partnership.

Fayette Riñen will assume today as the new PIA-7 director following the scheduled retirement of director Minerva Newman on December 11. Riñen was Newman's assistant director.

PIA-7 is one of the 16 regional offices that provides services such as production and dissemination of information; education and communications programs; and capacity-building in public communication.

Riñen said she is planning to extend its services to the private sector by establishing relationship with new partners and strengthening connections with the existing ones for them to engage also in the government efforts.

"We aim for more expansion with our linkages, to let them be involved with the advocacies of the govern-ment," she told reporters.

Riñen said it is already given that their primary task is to promote the priorities and programs of the government, especially the agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"What I would like to see now is to move our partnership with the private sector so that they will also know the programs of the government and how they can help the government," she said.

Riñen has started linking with some large companies like the Aboitiz Group, which allegedly expressed willingness to support the President's campaign against illegal drugs.

Visayan Electric Company, Inc., one of the companies owned by the Aboitiz Group, has initiated an "internal cleansing" among its employees through random drug testing as a way of support to the government's anti-drug campaign.

 PIA-7 also intends to tap giant telecommunication companies to help advance the agency's information dissemination.

Newman, who will be turning 65 on December 11, said she will be missing every memory she has in working at the PIA-7.

"My work here in PIA-7 will be fully memorable. Nothing is boring because work at PIA is really wonderful and because my staff are really wonderful people. I will leave PIA not really with a broken heart but I'm still happy because next to me is Fayette," said Newman.

Leaving government service, for Newman, opens other plans and opportunities in life.

"(I will) continue to write, continue to travel, and find a husband," she quipped. (FREEMAN)