INTERACTIVE WEBSITE LAUNCH.Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) Commander Lt. Gen. Gilbert I. Gapay leads the launching of the command’s official website during the media fellowship SOLCOM hosted for the officers and members of the press corps from Camp Nakar, 9th Infantry Division (9ID) from the Bicol Region, 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) based in Tanay, Rizal and Police Regional Office (PRO4A)-Calabarzon based in Calamba City, at the camp’s Executive Lounge and Clubhouse, Camp Gen. Nakar, Lucena City on June 5, 2019. (Photo by Saul E. Pa-a)
CAMP GEN. NAKAR, Lucena City – The Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) based in this camp now has its official website to boost its link to the media and the general public on its “need to share” information for a more engaging and pro-people 27/7 interaction.
Solcom commander, Lt. Gen. Gilbert I. Gapay, who led the launching Wednesday night, assured the website could generate a 24/7 interaction for a very engaging social media platform where they could upload their activities, photos and other events.
"Gone are the days that information is ‘need-to-know basis’ and we confine the information among ourselves,” he said.
“If the activity were not uploaded (through the website) or through the media, it is as good as that did not happen. If we were not able to document it, no matter how good we have accomplished, if that was not picked up by our media friends, it’s as if the activity did not happen at all,” Gapay said.
Before the website, he said the stakeholders, military partners and local chief executives were unaware of Solcom activities, including various community support projects.
He said they have established the website because of “the need to share” information and its key role where the media platform could now disseminate their mission accomplishments and the realization of their campaign objectives for a more peaceful, progressive Southern Luzon.
Solcom’s area of operational jurisdiction covers the Calabarzon Region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Mimaro (Mindoro Oriental/Occidental, Marinduque and Romblon (excluding Palawan) and the Bicol Region (Camarines Norte/Sur, Masbate, Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon).
“We consider the media as very important partners in accomplishing our mandates and mission. If not for your (media) support, the public would not know what the military organization is doing,” Gapay said, referring the media as the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) staunch partner.
He also thanked the media as “force multipliers” as he assessed the “best ever” collaborative partnership of the Philippine National Police and AFP in Southern Luzon, from their internal security operations, election duties and other focus military operations.
“There is no other time than this recent survey when the Armed Forces enjoy a very high level of satisfaction and trust rating at 75 percent and that is simply because our partners are the media,” he said.
He underscored the importance of where the military organization enjoys the high level of trust and confidence from the stakeholders.
He also considered the media reportage “as deterrent to our enemies, those whom we confront as security challenges and threats, because media has reported how prepared we were, how ready we were in the security preparations especially during the elections.”
Gapay described the May 13 mid-term polls “a resounding success” as the Solcom experienced a 50 percent reduction in terms of election related violent incidents (ERVIs) prior to the elections and achieving a zero ERVI on election day across Southern Luzon.
Lt. Col. Dennis S. Caña, who heads the team of information and communications and telcom group that manages the website, said the website would be the fastest way to communicate with them and the general public through its web contents of articles for public consumption, photos, data, reference and the Solcom contacts.
He also assured they have set up links where the inquiries and other information could be obtained through the public information office and as important channel to him being the People’s Freedom of Information (PFOI) officer of Solcom, except for highly-sensitive information and national security matters. (PNA)
