PAGADIAN CITY, 21 Jul (PIA) – The city government of Pagadian recently organized an orientation program dubbed “Reorganizing and Strengthening of BIONs” at the City Covered Court. The event aimed to bolster the effectiveness of the city’s information network.
More than 2,000 information officers and volunteers, alongside their respective barangay officials from the 54 barangays in the city, gathered to participate in this program.
The attendees were treated to valuable insights from Assistant Regional Director Rene V. Carbayas of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9. His presentation shed light on the essential roles and functions of information officers and volunteers in their respective communities.
ARD Carbayas emphasized the vital position held by Government Information Officers (GIOs) in the community, stating, “GIOs play a vital role in promoting public understanding of government policies, raising awareness about decision-makers and state institutions, disseminating information about social services, highlighting noteworthy trends, and addressing risks to public health and safety.”
He stressed that the functions of GIOs encompass a wide range of tasks, including monitoring media coverage, briefing and advising political officials, managing media relations, directly informing the public, and formulating communication strategies and campaigns.
Meanwhile, Mayor Sammy Co expressed his wholehearted support and appreciation for the dedication of the participants during the orientation.
“Gikinahanglan gayud kini karun sa atong syudad arun mas paspas ang pagkalap og saktong impormasyon sa matag barangay (This is absolutely necessary in our city to accelerate the gathering of accurate information in each barangay),” he said.
The mayor further pledged to provide funds for meals and transportation allowances for the participants, demonstrating his commitment to further support their efforts.
“Sugod pa lang kini. Sa sunod natong meeting, muhatag mi sa inyo ug meal allowance ug transportation allowance (This is just the beginning. In our next meeting, we will provide you with meal and transportation allowance)”, the mayor said.
Through this orientation program, the local government aims to empower information officers and volunteers to actively contribute to a progressive and well-informed Pagadian. (HTB/PIA9-Zamboanga del Sur)
