KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) – The Information Coordinating Network Soccsksargen (ICON SOX) recently convened in the city to promote transparency, strengthen governance, and improve public information services.
ICON SOX, which plays a vital role in enhancing information dissemination efforts to empower communities and promote development in the region, is supervised by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Region 12.
It is a network comprising public information officers, communicators, and information advocates from various national government agencies, local government units, as well as private and other partner institutions throughout Region 12.
During the meeting, ICON SOX members focused their discussions on enhancing members’ understanding of regulatory compliance—a crucial step in ensuring the organization’s sustainability and effectiveness.
Lawyer Nechelle J. Gedorio-Mesias, the director of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Koronadal Extension Office, emphasized the significance of organizational compliance with SEC regulations, equipping information officers with a deeper understanding of the legal frameworks that organizations must follow.
She also stressed the importance of proper registration, timely reporting, submission of general information sheets, and consistent updating of organizational status to avoid penalties and ensure good standing.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) also participated in the discussions, with revenue officers providing information on tax compliance, including the processes for obtaining tax identification numbers, filing income tax returns, and submitting annual reports.
The BIR also emphasized that adhering to its regulations not only enhances the integrity of organizations but also fosters public trust.
Highlighting the network’s ongoing development efforts, Hanah G. Naanep, the PhilHealth information officer and president of ICON-SOX, emphasized to ICON SOX members the crucial role that information officers play in the fast-changing landscape of media and technology.
She said information officers are instrumental in shaping narratives that uplift, inform, and empower communities.
“As public information officers, it is our role to be transparent to the public about the different government services that we ought to share to the people and to be truthful in every message we relay, and render honest service to the public,” Naanep said.
Meanwhile, PIA Regional Head Fryan Abkilan said that ICON-SOX, under the tutelage of PIA, will continue to empower its members with the right knowledge and skills in communications for better governance, improved public service delivery, and community development across Soccsksargen. (AMB, PIA Region 12)
