MANILA – The country’s communicators, both from public and private sectors, have been encouraged to develop a dynamic communication while engaging every Filipino in nation-building through responsible information dissemination in a digitized world.
This was the message of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director General Harold Clavite as he welcomed on Monday the more than 1,500 participants of the first National Information Convention (NIC) 2018 at the SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City.
“Reaching every Filipino, from OFW communities, to highly urbanized cities, to the grassroots, requires a strategy, a mindset, and a commitment, and thus, we will be wrapping up this convention by learning how to develop a dynamic communication strategy and understanding the significance of engaging the citizenry in nation-building,” Clavite said in his opening remarks.
Throughout the three-day convention, government communicators from 16 regions as well as other stakeholders from the private sectors are hoping to get deeper understanding of their role as information officers to make “positive impact” on the over 100 million Filipinos.
Clavite hopes the participants will learn the dynamic strategies in propagating information that could uplift the lives of the Filipino people and build a better nation.
“Regardless of your takeaway, our goal is to ensure that we are aware, equipped, and ready to deliver a message of transformation and progress. A message that will inspire everyone to contribute in the realization of government’s development agenda,” Clavite said.
He called on the participants to share their inputs and ideas in a declaration that will be after the event which ends on Wednesday.
“Another goal we have this week is to agree on a declaration where we will commit ourselves to Responsible Communication,” Clavite said.
Clavite said communicating government policies and programs is a responsibility not only by government media but every communicator in the country.
“The media, unlike how it is currently perceived in the digital space, is not, and must never be an enemy of the state. On the contrary, ensuring that our democracy has a free, vibrant, and successful press is cornerstone to our social and economic success as a nation,” Clavite emphasized.
“And therefore, we hope to foster a safe and healthy media environment for every media personnel,” he added.
The NIC was organized by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) through PIA with a theme: “Spurring Development and Empowering Communities through Information.”
Aside from public information officers and communicators, the event drew participants from the national and local media, the academe, and communications and technology industries leaders.
The participants will engage in series of plenary sessions which focus on understanding government programs and policies; fostering a safe and healthy media environment; and, raising the bar of governance.
They will talk on promoting responsible communication; developing a dynamic development communication strategy; and engaging the citizenry in nation-building.
On the sidelines, there will be a Fireside Chat where participating agencies will showcase their services, products, and capabilities through a demonstration.
The PCOO as well as its attached agencies and offices have set up booths where participants can get a glimpse of the government media’s actual operations.
The agencies under PCOO include: PIA, News and Information Bureau/Philippines News Agency, People’s Television or PTV4, Bureau of Broadcasting System/Radyo Pilipinas, Radio and Television Malcanang (RTVM), Philippine Printing Office, Bureau of Communication Service and Apo Production Unit, Inc. (PNA)
