MAGPET, Cotabato Province (PIA) — The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Region 12 recently held a town hall meeting for barangay information officers in Magpet, Cotabato, aiming to strengthen information dissemination efforts at the grassroots level.
Over 30 barangay information officers participated in the one-day event, receiving orientation on their crucial roles as public servants in their respective communities.
PIA Regional Head Fryan E. Abkilan emphasized the vital contribution of the participants in reaching the public. He stated that engaging the grassroots is essential, as barangay information officers are the ones who are active in their communities and have firsthand knowledge of local situations.
Magpet was chosen as the pilot area for activating the barangay information officers network (BION).
Aside from the short orientation about the role of barangay information officers and the activation of BION, the participants also underwent a seminar-workshop on writing for social media.
Given the popularity and significance of social media today, “We taught the barangay information officers how to use their official Facebook accounts to spread activities and programs at the barangay level.”
Liza Baquillos, barangay information officer of Kauswagan, said the seminar-workshop is a big help to improve their skills in writing for social media.
“Malaki talaga ‘yong tulong kay kami mismo na mga public servants sa barangay mapadali ang ipaabot sa kanila ang gusto nilang malaman sa aming barangay,” she stated.
(The assistance is extremely valuable as it simplifies the process for us, the barangay’s public servants, to communicate the information they seek about our community.)
Baquillos is confident that the partnership with PIA will open more opportunities for barangay information officers to develop their skills and gain additional knowledge.
She pledged to share the knowledge she acquired with her fellow barangay workers and utilize it to improve their community.
PIA plans a region-wide activity for barangay information officers in November.(SJDM – PIA Region 12)
