PIA XI brings gov't info to IP community

MONKAYO, Compostela Valley Province, Nov. 22 (PIA)—The Philippine Information Agency XI yesterday brought government agencies to the indigenous peoples (IP) community of Upper Ulip in Monkayo, Compostela Valley Province to keep them aware of the hazards and the risks in their area.

PIA XI Regional Director Efren F. Elbanbuena viewed it as important for government agencies to go down and to meet people at the grassroots where information can hardly reach those who need it most for them to become aware of something that can affect their lives.

PIA XI led agencies of the local and the national government in a forum dubbed as Makigsayod Information Forum designed for IPs to know specifically of the geo-hazards, geological risks, weather conditions, internal security risks and peace and order situations.

Speakers during the event included Engr. Gerry Pedrico, chief meteorologist of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical, Astronomical Administration (PAGASA); Allen June Buenavista, geologist of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB) XI, the 25th IB and the Municipal Police of Monkayo.

Vice Governor Manuel Zamora inspired participants and guests of the events with his thoughts on disaster preparedness and his views on the need to localize the language used in disseminating information for better understanding of locales in communities.

Supporting the event were the provincial government of Compostela Valley, the municipal government of Monkayo, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)-Compostela Valley provincial office  and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The information forum also earned the support of the 1001th Infantry Brigade and the 25th Infantry Battalion, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI, the Unified Tribal Council of Elders of Monkayo, the Tribal Council of Upper Ulip and the Barangay Government of Upper Ulip.

PIA XI rolled out the activity under the Program Monitoring and Coordination Center National Task Force Diwalwal (PMCC-NTFD) in which Director Elbanuena sits as the chair of the Information Directorate.

PIA XI last year also conducted an information drive on “Geo-hazard Risks in Barangay Mt. Diwalwal”, a gold-rush community tagged by MGB as high-risk area to landslides. (PIA-11/ JMDA)