PASAY CITY, (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joined the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Monday, December 16, to honor government communication agencies during the inaugural “Parangal: Gawad ng Kahusayan sa Komunikasyong Pampubliko” at the Philippine International Convention Center.
The event aimed to recognize exemplary communication programs that promote the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ vision and combat mis- and disinformation.
In his speech, President Marcos emphasized the crucial role of effective communication in leadership and governance.
He said communication is foundational in building trust between the government and its citizens, urging agencies to connect with the public to enhance awareness and promote participation in governance.
“Every spoken word carries with it the power to unite or to divide, to heal or to harm,” Marcos said.
The President highlighted the importance of communication in transforming ideas into reality and fostering a culture of excellence among government agencies.
The awards recognized outstanding initiatives across various categories, including the Public Service Campaign Award, which honors agencies that effectively bridge the gap between government plans and community experiences. Awardees include the Lupon, Davao Oriental, Bataan, and Victorias City, Negros Occidental.
Also, the Government Innovation Award celebrated those who embrace new systems and practices, with the Department of Information and Communications Technology bagging the recognition for National Government Agencies, following its e-government platforms that leveraged the delivery of timely information.
In a message delivered by Senior Undersecretary Emerald Ridao, PCO Secretary Cesar Chavez highlighted that the digital affordances of today’s internet age does not automatically make one a good communicator and that “best press is still good performance.”
“The people expect nothing from us but honesty—in what we do, in what we convey, and in what we impart. The moment we divert from this path is the day we lose our credibility,” Chavez said.
The “Kwento ng Pag-asa at Pagbabago” of the Department of Social Welfare and Development is hailed as the national level winner of the Public Service Campaign Award for championing the stories of various beneficiaries of social development programs.
The Pag-IBIG Fund, meanwhile, received the Best Government Innovation Award for GOCCs and GFIs in line with its “Feel Pag-IBIG at your Fingertips through the Virtual Pag-IBIG” initiative.
Likewise, the Website of the Year under the Outstanding Digital Campaign Award goes to Pag-IBIG Fund’s “Add to Cart: The Pag-IBIG Fund Online Public Auction” for making homeownership accessible.
Also, the National Privacy Commission won the Best Long-Form Content category of the Outstanding Digital Campaign Award for its “Privacy in the Spotlight” data protection explainer.
While the winner of the “Best Infographic” category of the Outstanding Digital Campaign is the “MWSS RO Water Conservation and Desludging” awareness campaign which centered on the advocacy for the sustainable protection of water resources.
Moreover, the Department of Budget and Management is hailed the “Champion of Information Integrity” and the DSWD spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao as “Outstanding Public Communicator” of the Parangal.
“Today, we honor the recipients. Tomorrow, we will achieve the Bagong Pilipinas we aspire for,” President Marcos concluded, expressing gratitude to media partners and civil society for their role in shaping the national narrative.
The event reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing communication strategies across all agencies, aiming to foster an informed citizenry that actively participates in governance. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
(Photo: RTVM Facebook Page)
