MANILA, (PIA) — The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) will host a disaster communications workshop for government media practitioners on Saturday, November 23, geared at strengthening disaster reporting through sessions led by DOST-PAGASA scientists and veteran journalists.
“This workshop will promote collaboration for more accurate crisis reporting,” PCO Director Florante S. Solmerin told the Philippine Information Agency.
“The PCO aims to foster discussions among media practitioners to enhance and broaden their insights through scientifically grounded knowledge on effectively addressing weather patterns, climate change and actionables in the Philippine context,” Solmerin added.
“Additionally, the PCO seeks to deepen understanding of the current state of weather forecasting and disaster communication systems, offering a comparative analysis of other countries’ experiences, global best practices, and media coverage on disaster preparedness and response,” he further said.
He said topics include weather forecasting, climate monitoring and crisis coverage best practices.
Assistant Secretary Julius N. Leonen will start the presentations with the Integrated News Operations strategy that PCO Acting Secretary Cesar B. Chavez introduced to their attached agencies.
Notable speakers at the whole day workshop held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, include Pulitzer Prize winner Manny Mogato discussing safety in disaster reporting, and DILG Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla Jr. presenting new protocols for emergency suspensions.
A panel of broadcast journalists including TV5’s Patrick Paez, GMA7’s Raffy Tima and former ABS-CBN reporter Chiara Zambrano will share field experiences.
Office of Civil Defense Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno and KBP Chairman Ruperto Nicdao Jr. will also participate.
The event includes sessions on lessons from Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), presented by Naval Inspector General Roy Vincent Trinidad, along with practical workshops on disaster communications. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
