KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) — The Philippine Information Agency recently completed a survey assessing the information and communication needs of communities in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The survey is part of a nationwide research project titled “An Assessment of the Information and Communication Needs of Local Communities: A Nationwide Study.”
According to the project briefer, the study ensures that “PIA remains aligned with its mandate and is equipped with an up-to-date and accurate understanding of the information needs of local communities. This assessment will also help PIA evaluate the current information landscape and identify the most effective ways to communicate government policies and programs to the public.”
“Ang layunin ng information needs survey ay para malaman ang information ecosystem ng ating mga respondents; pangalawa, ‘yong awareness nila sa mga government flagship programs; at pangatlo, ang awareness nila sa PIA,” Rafael Zapanta of the Planning, Communication, and Research Division of PIA Central Office said.
(The purpose of the information needs survey is to understand the information ecosystem of our respondents; secondly, their awareness of government flagship programs; and thirdly, their awareness of the PIA.)
The survey was conducted from Feb. 12 to 20 in Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte in the Bangsamoro Region and in Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces, and General Santos City.
A total of 33 respondents were interviewed face-to-face using a questionnaire in the municipalities of South Upi and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Sur and Upi in Maguindanao del Norte on Feb. 12, 13, and 15, completing the survey in the Bangsamoro Region.
Along with PIA employees, the survey was also conducted in Region 12 from Feb. 14 to 20. A total of 73 people from two barangays in the local government units of Midsayap in Cotabato Province, Esperanza and Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat, Surallah in South Cotabato, Malungon in Sarangani and General Santos City responded.
Nationwide, the survey targets 1,200 respondents selected through simple random sampling, following a multistage cluster sampling of barangays in cities and municipalities across 17 regions.
Last year, the PIA PCRD research team, along with PIA Region 10 personnel, conducted the same survey in Saguiran and Marantao, Lanao del Sur in October, and in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi in December with PIA Region 9 as a partner.
Starting March 5, the PIA-PCRD research team will conduct a survey in the Caraga Region, the final area to be covered. (DED, PIA Region 12)
