By PIA-Bohol | 05:33 PM September 13, 2024
The new set of officers for 2024-2025 of the Regional Association of Development Information Officers in Region 7 (Radio)- 7 were sworn in on September 5 at the Negros Oriental Convention Center in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
Negros Oriental Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria administered the oathtaking ceremony as Negros Oriental is the host for this year’s 26th Radio-7 Convention.
Radio 7 is the umbrella organization of five public information officer’s associations in Central Visayas, namely, the Association of Negros Oriental Public Information Officers (Anopio), Cebu Association of City and Municipal Public Information Officers (CAOCAMPIO), Association of United Development Information Officers in Bohol (Audio-Bohol), Siquijor Association of Information Disseminators (SAID), and Association of Government Information Officers in Region 7 (AGIO-7).
The new Radio 7 officers are: Doris Isabel Racho, DM of Audio-Bohol as President; Alvin Duazo (CAOCAMPIO) as Vice President; Zarline Sambas (Audio-Bohol) as Secretary; Margaux Dela Paz (AGIO-7) as Treasurer; Imee Taer Tapon (Audio-Bohol) as Auditor; and Mary Ann Dimabayao (AGIO-7) as the Press Relations Officer.
Elected as Radio 7 Board of Directors are Risty Villahermosa (Anopio); Rizalyn Postrado (SAID); Jesus Rey Cavalida (CAOCAMPIO), Lito Bontigao (CAOCAMPIO), Karla Antonio (Anopio), Ryan Christopher Sorote (Anopio), Michelle Rosales (AGIO), Elizabeth Tabanao (SAID), and Justin Daniel Lucero (SAID).
Racho, the information officer of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Central Visayas and currently the president of Audio-Bohol, said she is deeply honored and humbled by the trust of the association members.
“I stand before you today with a profound sense of responsibility and determination to serve each and every one of you with integrity, compassion, and dedication,” Racho said in her acceptance speech.
“As we move forward, let us remember that our strength lies in our unity, our diversity, and our unwavering commitment. Together, we can overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness. So let us join hands, let us work together, and let us write the next chapter of Radio 7,” she added.
Public information officers and tourism officers from the different local government units in the region converged in Negros Oriental on September 4-6, 2024 for the three-day regional conference of government communicators.
The convention highlighted the government’s peace agenda and sustainable tourism efforts in the region.
The government information associations organized by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) take turns in hosting the annual regional convention.
Audio-Bohol will be the host of the 27th Radio 7 convention.
PIA chief reminds PIOs of critical role in peace, development
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director General, Usec. Jose A. Torres Jr. reminded the public information officers in Central Visayas of their critical role in promoting peace and development in the country.
“Information officers play a very critical role in linking communities, especially when it comes to relaying the right information in the face of conflict, and in promoting the government’s and the various sectors’ reconciliation efforts on the ground,” said Torres.
“This is our role as peace builders. We play a very important part in promoting peace through our development communication strategies, especially in facilitating dialogues in communities,” he added.
The PIA chief said the Presidential Communications Office, PIA, and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity have forged an agreement to effectively disseminate the government’s efforts to promote the understanding of peace and reconciliation in the country.
Torres shared that PIA continues to hold a series of media briefings and public consultations to enhance the media’s understanding of the government’s Localized Peace Engagement and Transformation Program.
“It is our goal to improve the public’s awareness, especially among the grassroots, our communities, to support our peace building and reconciliation initiatives,” he said.
The role of IOs in development
Torres emphasized that every government effort towards development involves information officers.
“We are always there to craft communication strategies that would hopefully boost public awareness. We engage with our communities through various media – radio programs, talk shows, roadshows, caravans, kapihan, kumustahan, and others,” he said.
Torres stressed the role of IOs in communicating the government’s programs and initiatives, saying that it should go beyond information dissemination.
“What makes every government project worthwhile is the human aspect, the human story behind the development, that everyone wants to listen and to share. People love to hear anecdotes, real life narratives of struggle, of love, of joys and sorrows, of achievements and victories,” he explained.
He added that people will better appreciate the government’s programs when government agencies focus on how these initiatives positively impact individuals, families and communities.
Enhancing the impact as PIOs
While he is confident that everyone in the convention is a skilled communicator, Torres shared three key areas that the information officers could focus on to enhance their impact.
This includes leveraging technology to streamline their efforts, understanding the communities they serve, and fostering strong coordination and collaboration with communities, the government and the private sector, and even the international community.
More than 100 PIOs and local government unit tourism officers from Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol, and Siquijor gathered in Dumaguete City for the three-day convention.
The government information associations organized by the PIA in the provinces take turns in hosting the annual regional convention. (ECB/PIA7 Bohol)
