Mindacomnet opens with a challenge to highlight govt's rehab efforts

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Nov 13 (PIA) Historic 12th Mindanao Communicators’ Network formally opened here where the organization was first conceptualized in 1996.

Efren Elbanbuena, director of the Philippine Information Agency 11 and president of the MindaComNet said this year’s affair is anchored on the theme, “Building Back Better Mindanao,” from the incidents of unpeace and the ongoing climate change.

He said the catch-phrase, ”building back better,” has been used first in Davao Oriental and is being adapted nationwide.

Davao Oriental was hardest hit by typhoon Pablo in 2012.

“We have to present the efforts being made by the government in the rehabilitation in the hardest hit areas like Davao Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City and the man-made disaster that hit Zamboanga City,” Elbanbuena said.

He said two important concerns like the proposed Bangsamoro Basic measure in Congress and the Climate Change Advocacy will be discussed in the activity.

He said holding the activity in Zamboanga is like coming home to the place where Mindacomnet was organized first during the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos.

Speaking in behalf of Press Secretary Sonny Coloma who is with the president in Myanmar, Elbanbuena congratulated the host region, the PIA Zamboanga  Peninsula for holding the affair which is consistently done by cluster agencies of government in Mindanao.

“I urge everyone to learn and enjoy this activity as we learn and highlight the effort to bring peace for Mindanao and the climate change advocacy,” Elbanbuena said.

Information officers from local government units, line government agencies and the Philippine Information Agency from all regions in Mindanao came to participate in the activity.

Noemi Edaga, director of PIA IX and host of the activity welcomed the participants to the venue that is rich with its culture and tradition.

She urged participants to experience Zamboanga and see for themselves the peace in the area despite the recent incidents like the bombing over the weekend and the Zamboanga siege last year as projected by the media.

“See for yourself the real situation.  I’ve been here for twenty years and we are still here.  Hope you can be our ambassadors of peace for the real situation of Zamboanga,” Edaga said.

Christian Ulasiman, executive secretary of Mayor Ching Climaco  Salazar of Zamboanga City also welcomed the participants from other areas of Mindanao.

He stressed that” Building Back Better Zamboanga,” is also their campaign as part of their rehabilitation and recovery program after the Zamboanga siege.

Ulasiman said that communication is an important factor for them to reach to the conflict-affected residents, particularly women, children, old-folks in the affected communities.

“Communicating with and providing life-saving information to the people in crisis-situation are two important components in disaster-response in the world,” Zamboanga City included,” he said.

Ulasiman assured that the local government will continue to partner with the PIA in bringing tangible development to Zamboanga City through communication. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)