(DILG XI ARD Charissa Guerta)
NABUNTURAN, Davao de Oro (PIA) – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) XI reaffirmed its commitment to enhance grassroots communication in Davao Region by advocating for the institutionalization and empowerment of Barangay Information Officers (BIOs).
Speaking during the BIO assembly on November 18, DILG-XI Assistant Regional Director Charissa Guerta said that while BIOs play a pivotal role in information dissemination at the barangay level, empowering them and ensuring their functionality is crucial to maximizing their impact.
Guerta emphasized that they can only function effectively if they are designated through a special order by their punong barangay.
“By institutionalization, I mean you need to have a special order or an executive order coming from your punong barangay, designating you as the barangay information officer. Without that you have no authority to be a legitimate communicator,” she explained.
In Davao de Oro, three barangays have already designated their respective barangay information officers. She urged others to do the same.
While institutionalization is the first step, Guerta underscores the need to build strong networks among information officers from the national to the barangay levels to ensure a seamless flow of information.
Although the communicator’s network at the provincial level in Davao de Oro has been established, Guerta highlighted the need to further extend it to the municipal level with the BIOs as the primary members; and then to the barangay level with members from every purok or sitio.
She explained that BIOs’ roles are not only limited to relaying information. Part of their function is to inspire and empower their community members; thus the need to conduct capacity development activities to equip BIOs with skills to perform their roles.
Guerta informed that their sub-Local Governance Resource Center (LGRC) in Davao de Oro would greatly help the BIOs through multimedia and public education services.
Guerta cited the DILG MC 2017-165 which supported the provision of journalism and reporting training for all public information officers, including those coming from the barangays. (clc/ASO/PIA XI)
