DIPOLOG CITY (PIA) – The regional office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed all local government units in its jurisdiction to designate an information officer who will be primarily tasked to facilitate the flow of accurate and timely information from the national government to the grassroots level.
According to the DILG Memorandum released on January 23, 2024, local government units shall designate an information officer on all levels in order to ensure the seamless operation of the information network.
The Local Government Code of 1991 counts the Public Information Officer as among the key officials that an LGU must have. However, Section 486 of the LGC states that “the appointment of the information officer is optional for the provincial, city and municipal governments.”
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA), as the developmental communication arm of the government, has committed itself to the strengthening of an “information highway” which can be by having information officers in the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay levels.
“Information is alive,” said PIA Regional Head Noemi Edaga. “It needs a destination; it needs a source, and it needs a recipient.”
According to Edaga, this information highway will also aid in the combat against fake news and misinformation.
“The Philippine Information Agency cannot do this alone,” she said.
“Our target here is to ensure that every one of our constituents receives the same information – the right and accurate information cascaded down from the central (office) down to the regional and provincial, all the way down to the barangay level through our information officers.”
Edaga also highlighted PIA’s role in ensuring that these new information officers are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to properly do their job.
“The DILG got them designation, but it is PIA’s job to capacitate and empower our information officers and see to it that they are efficient and effective.”
Cities such as Isabela de Basilan and Dapitan have closely worked with PIA and developed a functioning information division, empowering their constituents with accurate and timely information.
PIA – IX has five provincial information centers throughout the Zamboanga Peninsula, which can be contacted through its email, [email protected], for coverage and capacity-building training. (KSA/RVC/EDT/PJF/PIA9-Zamboanga del Norte)
