TACLOBAN CITY – A communication professor from Visayas State University (VSU) based in Baybay City has been tapped to help guide UNICEF Philippines in shaping national strategies on social and behavior change.

Ulderico Alviola, chair of VSU’s Department of Development Communication, has been appointed to the Research Advisory Group (RAG) for UNICEF’s Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Landscape Analysis and Capacity Assessment.

The panel provides technical guidance, ensures ethical and academic rigor in research outputs, and advises on how findings can support national development efforts.

Alviola, who also serves as president of the Association of Development Communication Educators and Practitioners (ADCEP) Philippines, joins other prominent experts from academia, government, and international organizations.

ADCEP welcomed his inclusion, calling it “a recognition of development communication as a key discipline in SBC initiatives in the country.”

Other members of the advisory group include Elizabeth Enriquez of UP Diliman, NEDA official Girlie Grace Casimero-Igtiben, UPLB professors Benjamina Paula Flor and Rosa Pilipinas Francisco, and former DOH Undersecretary Dr. Vicente Belisario, among others.

The initiative, launched on May 15 and led by ThinkPlace Philippines, is part of UNICEF’s broader effort to assess and enhance SBC systems across sectors, with a focus on improving outcomes such as immunization.

UNICEF Philippines remains a key partner of ADCEP, with both organizations collaborating in recent events, including the 2024 National Development Communication Conference held in Cotabato.

(RONALD O. REYES)

NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, Northern Samar – To foster cohesion and camaraderie among the staff and employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways Northern Samar Second District Engineering Office (DPWH-NSSDEO), spearheaded by OIC-District Engineer, Atty. Arthur Eric L. Sabong, and OIC-Assistant District Engineer, Francisco Y. Tañala, a team building activity on May 23-24, 2025, was conducted, wherein they took their time off from their routine work schedule and spent quality time together.

The recently concluded high-spirited team building, held at Villa Cruz Nature’s Resort, San Roque, Northern Samar, anchors on the theme, “NSSDEO: Stronger as One, Better as One.” The program commenced with an opening remarks by the newly-elected Rank-and-File Employee’s Association (RAFEA) President, Minda S. Loyogoy, signifying the official opening of the activity.

Thereafter, an amazing race challenge was conducted, where each team battled for pace and a lot of teamwork. At the end of the game, light blue team emerged as winner, followed by pink team, orange team, and green team.

The second part of the program was led by the opening remarks of OIC-ADE Tañala. There were skit presentations by each team that spurred entertainment and laughter, and induction and oath taking of the newly-elected RAFEA officers which became the highlight of the entire program.

The undertaking wrapped-up with the awarding of winners, where pink team got the first place of the skit presentation, light blue team as second place, while the orange team and green team in third place and fourth place, respectively.

In a message, OIC-DE Sabong said, “In this team building, we are all equal, no one is in a high or low position, but there must be a respect. Now, let us forget about work for a while, because this is a time for us to have fun and bond with each other”.

The event winded-up with staff and employee’s instilling the value of collaboration and collective effort which are essential for success.

(dpwh/nssdeo/rnl/jmp)

Berbon of N. Samar elected as president

TACLOBAN CITY– In a milestone move for local economic governance, the Philippine Association of Local Investment Officers (PALIO) was officially launched on May 20.
The oath-taking ceremony of PALIO’s founding officers was held at the central office of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), marking the realization of a long-envisioned goal among local government investment promotion officers in the country.

The event was officiated by DILG– Bureau of Local Government Development (DILG-BLGD) Director Anna Liza Bonagua, with representatives from the Board of Investments (BOI), both of whom now serve as the association’s technical advisers.

John Allen Berbon, who was elected as the founding president, emphasized the significance of the moment in his inaugural statement.

“Today, May 20, 2025, marks a pivotal moment as I officially assumed the role of founding president of the Philippine Association of Local Investment Officers (PALIO). I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my fellow Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Officers (PEDIPOs) for placing their trust and confidence in me,” he said.
Berbon also acknowledged the critical support of the BOI and the DILG-BLGD, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in navigating the road ahead.

“While the road ahead holds many challenges, I am confident that together, we can achieve great things. Let us move forward with determination and collaboration,” he added.

PALIO aims to institutionalize a nationwide network of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Officers (LEDIPOs) in line with key national policies, including the Ease of Doing Business Act (RA 11032), Executive Order No. 12 on Green Lanes for Strategic Investments, and decentralization directives under EO 138 and the Mandanas-Garcia ruling.

The association’s purpose is multifold which includes to strengthen peer collaboration and technical capacity among LEDIPOs; facilitate partnerships with national agencies, development partners, and the private sector; promote policies and reforms that enhance local investment climates; and advance professional development of LEDIPOs through accreditation, certification, and continuing education.

As a unifying platform, PALIO is envisioned to play a key role in promoting inclusive, resilient, and balanced regional development across the country. It underscores a growing commitment to transform local government units into proactive, investor-ready communities—vital to national economic competitiveness.

With its formal launch, PALIO signals a new chapter for local investment officers who, through strategic collaboration and shared vision, aim to drive transformative growth at the grassroots level.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)