LUCENA CITY (PIA) — The Presidential Communications Office (PCO), in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), convened information officers from across Quezon province on Monday, December 11, to streamline government information under the Unified Communications (UniComms) program.
The Calabarzon leg of the UniComms underscored the crucial role of information officers in disseminating information on government programs, policies, and issues to grassroots communities. The assembly, set to be rolled out in various regions of the country, aims to harmonize communication between the Office of the President and other national government agencies with their regional and local counterparts.
Ma. Cristina Arzadon, Regional Director of PIA Calabarzon, emphasized the significance of an integrated messaging strategy to effectively disseminate information on government initiatives to the public.
“We need to align all our messages from the national government down to the regional line agencies so that the administration’s programs and policies, and other issues in the community are aligned. This way, nothing is lost in translation and misinterpreted,” Arzadon said to information officers and media practitioners.
UniComms is aligned with the Marcos Jr. administration’s ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ brand of leadership, aiming to define Filipino nationalism, according to Patricia Kayle Martin, PCO’s Assistant Secretary for Digital Media Services.
“Bagong Pilipinas, or Progressive Philippines, was conceptualized by no less than the President himself. It is not just a slogan, a branding, or a logo—it is an invitation to what being a Filipino is and to view our country from a fresh perspective. A perspective rooted in transformation across various facets of our society,” Martin said.
She added: “We’re trying to change the mindset of the Filipino people, especially the youth nowadays. We appreciate that children nowadays are critical thinkers. A bagong Filipino is someone who has discipline, excellence, and patriotism, and we will try to change the mindset of the Filipinos to see the Philippines differently.”
Martin also underscored the administration’s efforts to bridge the digitalization gap by providing internet connections all over the country.
Through UniComms, the PCO has been delivering information dissemination techniques on government programs to regions across the country, addressing the historical Manila-centric mindset.
“We know that what has been happening in the regions is not given much attention. Their constituents are not aware that there are government programs they can avail because there is an information gap. That is why we are asking that if we have programs and projects, you can help us reach those who need this information the most,” Martin said.
Quezon Provincial Information Officer Jun Lubid expressed support for the vision of the PCO in aligning local information dissemination.
“It is crucial that we disseminate information that aligns with the administration’s brand of governance and effectively communicate government programs, policies, and issues for our nation,” Lubid stressed.
Members of the Quezon Communicators Network (QueCommNet), consisting of government and private media practitioners, have also embraced the PCO’s banner communications advocacy.
“I hope our friends at the PCO can become a channel that will assure the President of our commitment to support the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ brand of governance. We may not be able to individually approach him, but we hope you can be the instrument to let President Marcos know that we support this advocacy,” QueCommNet President Willy Tomines said.
Gemi Formaran of the STANd UPPP Media Network, the communicators’ network organized by the Provincial Government of Quezon in partnership with PIA Quezon and Radyo Pilipinas Lucena, said the UniComms will be of great help to information officers and local media practitioners.
“The Unified Communication will be a big help to the Quezon Media Network, which focuses on gathering information during times of calamities and disasters. You can rest assured that we will do what we can to help. You can be sure that we in Quezon Province support the UniComms no matter what,” Formaran said.
Lucena City was the third stop of the Regional Unified Communications Assembly, which aims to cover five regions in 2023. Aside from CALABARZON, the UniComms Assembly whistle-stops in SOCCSKSARGEN and Northern Mindanao, while similar activities are set to be launched in Davao Region and Western Visayas. (PB/PIA-4A)
