CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA)—The regional information officers from various national government agencies (NGAs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), and government financial institutions (GFIs) in the MIMAROPA region convened on October 18.
Organized by the Philippine Information Agency-MIMAROPA and hosted by the Police Regional Office (PRO) MIMAROPA, the event aims to strengthen network and collaboration among government agencies and enhance the information officer’s skills in performing their job as development communicators.
Officially named the Association of MIMAROPA Regional Information Officers (AMRIO), the new organization aims to serve as a regional hub for exchanging best practices, promoting transparency in government communications, and advancing professional development among public information officers.
As such, the association laid out plans for capacity-building training, collaborative projects, and meetings that will gather experts in public communication. These initiatives are aimed at elevating the standards of government communication, particularly in times of crisis, and ensuring the professional growth of its members.
During the meeting, the first-ever officers and board of directors of the association were elected.
Elected officers were Atty. James Corwin Custodio of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as President; Brian Jay C. Zagala of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as Vice President; Mary Joy Amoranto of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) as Secretary; Lorraine Arreza of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as Treasurer; Niko Antonio Acedera of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) as Auditor; Rhoda S. Sulit of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) as Business Manager; and Atty. Donald Jude H. Joya of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) as Public Information Officer.
The elected Board of Directors were the Information Officers from the Philippine Army (PA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Land Transportation Office (LTO), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
In his acceptance speech, Custodio expressed gratitude to his fellow officers and association members for their trust and emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration among information officers across the region.
“Our role as public information officers is not only to relay facts but to engage and build trust with the communities we serve. Through this association, we aim to develop new skills, adapt to technological advancements, and work together to make sure the right information reaches the people,” Custodio said. (PIA MIMAROPA)
