DAVAO CITY-
How we can we say that “Less is
More”? This statement brings so much
questions and connotes underlying meanings.
Only when we network and build partnerships, that we can grasp the substance of this.
The network of local government
information officers (LGU IOs), Civil
Military Operations (CMO) officers and Police Community Relations (PCR)
officers has paid off in closely monitoring the 2016 National and Local Elections. Information that used to be hard to come by
when working alone has been made available. Verified and complete of
details. The exchange of information has
never been made easy to reach, until such network has come about through
establishing a convergent effort to properly inform the public.
In partnership with the 10th
Infantry Division of the Philippine Army under Major General Rafael Valencia,
PIA XI Regional Director Efren F. Elbanbuena called the LGU Info Officers to a
meeting on Election Reporting together with the CMOs and the PCRs on May 05,
barely four days before the 2016 National and Local Elections.
“This convergence is the first
of its kind,” Elbanbuena said as he
vouched support to create a mechanism
of updating the public regarding the conduct of
the 2016 Elections which the Filipino people viewed as crucial to building a “transformed”
Philippines.
Elbanbuena pointed out the
importance of the civilian information
officers as essential partners of the CMOs and the PCRs. “CMOs cannot be
effective without the support of PIA; we cannot talk peace alone,” he said in
his talk during the meeting on Election Reporting.
Major
Gen Valencia acknowledged the importance of the partnership with Information
Officers and PCRs, saying this could pave way towards pooling together the
individuals who work on the ground to
communicate with local folks.
In his message read by 10th ID
assistant division commander, Col. Casiano C. Monilla, Major Gen Valencia
viewed the convergence of CMOs, LGU IOs and PCRs as a way for the Philippine Army to expand
its network of working for peace and
development at the community level.
In his talk, 10th Inf Div. G-7,
Lt Col Ben Tianco also noted the importance of involving PIA
and its network of information officers in
the Joint Security Coordinating Council (JSCC). He said communication
and information would play a pivotal role in setting the mode of communicating with the public.
Such idea was also pointed out by Major Ezra Balegtey, the public information
officer of the Unified Eastern Mindanao
Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“Every idea is good. Every
information is good. Paano ito ilalabas is a different thing,” Tianco said. “We
will provide the truth; we will not hold information but it should be accurate,
correct,” he added.
The meeting on Election
Reporting dealt much on “What to Report” and “How to Report” before, during and
after the Elections. On top of the
discussion on these, the participants defined the meaning and connotations of
“general public information”, and “internal information” which needed in depth
verification.
When “The Day” came, the Davao
Region Watch community page established by PIA served well in pooling together
election-related information from LGU information officers and those coming
from the 10th Inf. Division of the Philippine Army.
In Davao City, PIA XI featured
Major General Rafael Valencia as guest of the early morning Election
Briefing that provided reporters a glimpse
of the general situation at the onset of the casting of votes, and in few hours
after the opening of polling centers.
SMS reports and photos on Election situations were posted on the Davao Region Watch while also being sent to the Hatol ng Bayan
at the Central Office of PIA and posted at the I-Hayag facebook, updating
fellows of PIA on events occurring in various areas of coverage.
PIA XI extends great
appreciation for the camaraderie of LGU information officers and the openness of CMOs under the 10th Inf Division
of the Philippine Army. It is also expressing thanks to the Regional/Provincial Directors of the
Philippine National Police (PNP) for picking up calls of PIA XI to ask for
update and AOR assessment. PIA XI is
also grateful to all Facebook administrators
of the local government units in Davao Region for allowing it to share posts
on the conduct of Elections in their
municipality.
PIA Davao Region is run by very
lean number of staff. Despite having Less number of workers, PIA XI strives to
produce More through establishing network, partnership and friendship with the
military, the police and the LGU
communicators who share the common cause of empowering the public with
information. And with them, PIA XI
works Less for More… (Jeanevive Duron-Abangan, PIA 11)
