LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu (PIA) -- The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on Wednesday, April 3, kicked off the Visayas leg of its West Philippine Sea strategic communications workshop series.

PIA information officers from Regions 6, 7, and 8 converged in this city to participate in the third leg of the workshop series conducted by the PIA in collaboration with the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea, the National Security Council and the Philippine Coast Guard.

Previous workshops were held in La Union for information officers from Northern and Central Luzon and in Dapitan City for the Mindanao cluster.. 

In his opening remarks, PIA Director-General Jose A. Torres, Jr., urged the PIA regional offices to craft effective communication plans that will raise more awareness of the continued efforts of the Philippine government in addressing the West Philippine Sea issue and inspire nationalism when it comes to the country's sovereign rights over the disputed maritime domain.

“Sana po magtulong-tulong tayong pagisipan magbuo tayo ng communications plan sa bawat probinsya, bawat komunidad, bawat rehiyon,  kung paano natin makumbinsi ang mga tao, kasama na ang mga opisyal ng gobyerno na magkaroon ng lakas ng loob na igiit ang ating mensahe,” said Torres. 

(I hope we can work together to brainstorm and create communication plans in each province, each community, each region on how we can convince the people, including government officials, to have the courage to assert our message.) 

He pushed for the government communicators to work on implementing activities that will enhance the appreciation of Filipinos for the government's actions to protect and advance the territorial rights of the country over the disputed maritime territory.

Torres also highlighted the importance of helping Filipinos realize that the resources of the West Philippine Sea solely belong to the Filipino people. 

"Kumbisihin natin silang lahat na makialam sa isyu ng West Philippine Sea. Lahat tayo ay may karapatan na magsalita tungkol sa West Philippine Sea dahil ito ay atin. Ang yaman ng West Philippine Sea ay para sa mga Pilipino. Kaya galingan natin at pagisipan nating mabuti kung paano natin kumbinsihin ang mga kababayan na sumama sa atin at sama-sama nating isigaw na ang yaman ng West Philippine ay para sa mga Pilipino,” he said. 

(Let's convince the Filipinos  to intervene in the West Philippine Sea issue. We all have the right to speak about the West Philippine Sea because it is ours and its resources belong to the Filipinos. So let's  think carefully about how we can convince the public to join us, and let's spread the message that the West Philippine Sea is for the Filipinos.) 

Early this year, the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) tapped the PIA to take the lead in communicating accurate information about the issues involving the West Philippine Sea at the grassroots level.

Countering misinformation

One of the workshop’s participants, PIA Bohol information center manager Rey Anthony Chiu, said it is important for the agency to help counter misinformation on the West Philippine Sea issue. 

“Although wala tay mga military force nga ika-counter sa China kung magkinaunsa, ang mahimu natu kay to spread the information. Mao nang importante gyud nga aduna ta aning communications plan aron ang publiko og apil pud ang ubang nasud ang makatabang natu kung magkinaunsa,” said Chiu.

(Although we don't have military forces to counter China in any way, what we can do is to disseminate accurate information about the issue. That's why it's important that we have this communication plan so that the Filipinos, including other countries, can help us on this matter.)

For PIA Negros Occidental information center manager Lorenzo Lambatin Jr., the information campaign is an opportunity for the agency to rally the support of Filipinos on the West Philippine Sea. 

"Yung binigay sa atin na marching order ni DG Torres this gives us an opportunity to engage again with our constituents lalo na yung mga nasa far flung areas natin para magkaroom sila ng participation sa ating suporta sa West Philippine Sea. Nangangailangan tayo ng suporta dito mula sa buong Pilipinas, sa aming lugar kinagagalak namin tong mangyari, para naman ito ay mabigyan natin ng pansin ang West Philippine Sea para makuha nila ang kaukulang suporta para ito ay ating maisulong,” said Lambatin. 

(The marching orders that were given to us by DG Torres is an opportunity to engage again with our constituents, especially those who are living in far-flung areas so they can support the government in the West Philippine Sea issue. We should be getting support from all over the country. In our area, we welcome this opportunity so that we can get public support and promote the efforts of the government.) 

On the other hand, PIA Southern Leyte information center manager Marcelo Pedalino said the information campaign is relevant even for those living in the Visayas as the issue involves the country’s sovereignty rights over the West Philippine Seas. 

"Timely gyud to iyang paningkamot nga masilsil gyud sa alimpatakan sa atoang kaigsuonang pilipino ang kamahinungdanon, bisan layo pata sa kadagatan sa Pilipinas dako gyud tag kalabutan kay ato manang teritoryo. Manghinglabot ug magpakabana gyud ta ug angay natung dasigon atong mga kaigsuonan nga sama natu, magpakabana usab sila,” said Pedalino. 

(His call is really timely to convince our fellow Filipinos that even though we are far from the seas of the Philippines, it is still important to care because it is our territory. Let us encourage other Filipinos to care about the West Philippine Sea issue.) 

Resource persons during the first day of the workshop were Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay T. Tarriela, and National Security Council deputy director-general Nestor Herico. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)