To raise the standard of public service, nurture and nourish the culture of professionalism, integrity and competence, DPWH – Region VIII through the Regional Data Management Office headed by Antonieta R. Lim, public information officer II, conducted the echo conference for PIO designates on communication and advocacy planning workshop.
Resource speakers came from the Stakeholder Relations Service — Randy del Rosario, information officer IV and Andro Santiago, community affairs officer IV together with Jerry Esplanada of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.The DPWH regional office saw an urgent need to renew and revitalize the information and public relations arms, in the regional and district level, modernize its information and communication systems and equipment and more importantly update and hone the knowledge and skills of the PIOs on the latest information and communication methods, techniques and trends.
Communication Management as discussed by Randy del Rosario, OIC-chief public information division, presented the evolvement of PIOs role from simply transmitting information in an objective and neutral fashion to its intended audience to helping define objectives and philosophies while helping the organization adapt to the demands of its constituents and environment.
Another additional role PIOs have to undertake is manning the Citizens’ Feedback Management Center (CFMC) through the establishment of Public Assistance/Complaints Desk pursuant to RA 9485 (Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007) which was extensively shown to the group for information and reports for reference. Esplanada offered exercises and workshop on newswriting and writing tips. The 2-day advocacy planning workshop enhanced the communication skills and knowledge of the Public Information Officers in carrying out their tasks of communicating the department’s programs, projects and achievements to the public. (MA. NENITA Y. GOMEZ, PIO-designate)
