PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) – The Presidential Communications Office (PCO), through the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Regional Office 9, is set to empower around 800 information officers in Zamboanga del Sur through a capacity-building initiative on Thursday, November 28.
Dubbed as the Barangay Information Officers Network (BION) Assembly, the event will gather information officers from 681 barangays, 26 municipalities, Pagadian City, and the Provincial Press Bureau at the Pavilion Hall, Provincial Government Complex, Barangay Dao, Pagadian City.
This assembly is a vital step in strengthening the provincial information networks, ensuring that our information officers are well-equipped to deliver accurate and timely communication that empowers communities and supports local governance,” said the PIA Regional Director Noemi B. Edaga.
The event aims to harmonize communication efforts across the province and equip the information officers with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively serve as key communicators of timely, accurate, and relevant information to their communities.
These IOs will serve as the voice of both national and local government programs—from the national level to the barangays and vice versa—through various traditional and online platforms.
The activity’s lecture lineup includes topics such as Handling Fake News and Responsible Social Media Use, The Role of Barangay Information Officers (BIOs) in Disaster and Emergency Response, and a Benchmarking Session on the Successful Implementation of BION in Isabela City, Basilan.
PCO Undersecretary and PIA Director General Katherine Chloe S. De Castro is set to grace the event.
This activity is being conducted in partnership with the Provincial Government of Zamboanga del Sur and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Office 9, a long-standing collaborator of the PIA in building the region’s information highway.
The DILG has issued a memorandum to local government executives, urging them to designate information officers and encourage their participation in the capacity-building initiative. (JPA/CCP/PIA9)
