By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY -- The Presidential Communications Operations Office's (PCOO)'s fourth leg of Transparency Roadshow is finally set on December 2, 2021, after its postponement last August 26 due to stricter quarantine guidelines imposed in Surigao City.
According to A
tty. Kristian Ablan, PCOO Undersecretary and Freedom of Information (FOI) Program Director, the Transparency Roadshow aims to inform and engage representatives from the national and local governments, civil society, academe, media and the general public on the government's responses against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and other services and programs of the government.
During the said event, Surigao del Norte Governor Francisco Matugas will deliver his welcome message. PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar will also lead the Ceremonial Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the implementation of the FOI Program in Schools. A message of support will be given by Dr. Gregorio Gamboa, Jr., president of Surigao State College of Technology (SSCT).
To promote the government’s Zero Hunger Campaign, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles will share the updates on the Task Force’s operations and accomplishments on Zero Hunger, as well as on COVID-19, and the transparency initiatives of the Office of Cabinet Secretariat (OCS).
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga regional director Ramel Jamen will present the department’s transparency initiatives and COVID-19 subsidy programs and services. The National Housing Authority (NHA)'s transparency initiatives and government infrastructure and housing projects will be presented by Regional Manager Engr. Erasme Madlos.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), will discuss “Safeguarding Mass Media and Press Freedom, and Transparency Initiatives of PTFoMS.
USec. Ramon Cualoping III, director-general of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), will also #InformInformInform and #ExplainExplainExplain the Duterte Legacy and Transparency Programs of the agency.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of Alert Level 2 status in Caraga region, the LGU concerned and all other government agencies involved ensured that strict health protocols will be observed during this activity. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
