MANILA – The country’s top communicators both from the government and private sectors will gather in Davao City for the first National Information Convention 2018 slated from Feb. 19-21 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang.
Bannered by the theme “Spurring National Development and Empowering Communities through Information,” the event will be participated by information officers both from the national and local governments as well as from national and local media.
The groups from digital media, academe, non-government and civil society organizations, communication students, and partners from information, communication and technology have also been invited to attend the convention.
The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has organized the information convention to encourage the country’s communicators to push for effective and responsible sharing of information that will improve the quality of life of over 100 million Filipinos.
The event also aims to strengthen partnership between private and public sector communicators with the goal of nurturing a well-informed and enlightened citizenry.
During the convention, the participants are expected to organize a movement of communicators that will empower communities to encourage different civic groups to engage in nation building.
The participants are expected to share the best practices they used in public advocacy and social mobilization.
PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar will deliver an inspirational message where he is expected to discuss how the Duterte administration communicates its key policy initiatives, including the Philippine Development Plan of 2017-2022, which is the administration's first medium-term plan anchored on a long-term vision for the country.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Philippine Information Agency Director-General Harold Clavite will deliver opening remarks on Monday while Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and other key government officials are also scheduled to give inspirational talks.
Officials both from government and private sectors invited as guest speakers during the six plenary sessions scheduled during three-day convention include Presidential Task Force on Media Security Executive Director and PCOO Undersecretary Joel Egco, DZMM reporter Noel Alamar, The Philippine Star columnist Luisito Beltran, and University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication Dean Elena Pernia, among others.
The convention will feature plenary sessions and an exhibit.
Concepts and strategies on communicating government policy, citizen journalism, crisis communication, and empowering communities through communication will be discussed in the plenary sessions.
On the other hand, the convention will also highlight an exhibit which will showcase the services offered by the PCOO and its attached agencies. (PNA)
