MinDA, PIA strengthen network of information officers in Mindanao
By Renelle Escuadro
BUTUAN
CITY (PIA) – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), in partnership with
the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga, recently convened all
information officers in the Caraga region in Butuan City.
As the
first leg of the Mindanao Communicators Network (MindaComNet), 120
information officers from the national line agencies (NGAs), local government
units (LGUs), and state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Caraga
participated, looking forward to the key agencies of the government and
stakeholders nurturing the MindaComNet.
The
MindaComNet Caraga Regional Congress served as an avenue of insightful
discussions, deeper understanding of the Mindanao Peace and Development Agenda
that are consistent with the peace and development initiatives of the
government, recent updates on Brunei
Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area
(BIMP-EAGA) cooperation, the importance of accurate peace, public
safety and security communication, and sustainable tourism promotion,
among others, that information officers needed to strategically communicate
across all platforms to come up with a unified message to promote Caraga
as a peaceful, beautiful, and bountiful region in Mindanao.
Dir. Olie
B. Dagala of the Investment Promotions and Public Affairs Office of MinDA
welcomed all participants and said, “MindaComNet is a group of information and
public relations officers that serves as a platform for communication exchange
and advocacy of various Mindanao imperatives.”
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga gathered the information officers from the different national government agencies, local government units, and state universities and colleges in Caraga region for the Mindanao Communicators Network (MindaComNet) - Caraga Regional Congress in Butuan City on April 29-30, 2024. The information officers expressed their enthusiasm to revive and sustain the network and collaborate with the rest of the information officers in Mindanao. (Photo: PIA - Caraga).
“The
Memorandum of Understanding between MinDA and PIA in 2023 underscored the
pivotal role of the information officers in communicating the Mindanao Peace
and Development Agenda to the grassroots. It is significant to sustain
the MindaComNet and link everyone for possible MinDA integration, learning
interventions, and collaborations,” he added.
As a
staunch ally of MinDA, PIA Caraga Regional Head Venus L. Garcia
provided a notable timeline of the MindaComNet having its inception on
September 20, 2000 in Cagayan de Oro City, with members coming from Regions 9,
10, 11, 12, and Caraga.
Garcia
supported the call to brace the organization in all the regions, stating, “This
initiative will maximize the flow of information by pooling the resources of as
many agencies and organizations as possible with the aim of contributing to
local, regional, and national development. Strengthening the group will also
address many information and communication gaps in society through partnerships
and resource generation.”
Adrian M.
Tamayo, chief of the Public Relations Division of MinDA, tackled
BIMP-EAGA to update significant hidden potential in Mindanao.
“Mindanao
happens to be as large as South Korea in terms of land area, ang bigger than
Portugal. If we can come together and use this as a synergy, we can be as
economically advanced as these countries because the potential that they are
enjoying is the same potential that we have, but we have not fully recognized
it,” said Tamayo.
The members of the panel, comprising the Philippine Information Agency Caraga, the Department of Tourism Caraga, the European Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, the Mindanao Development Authority, and the Philippine National Police, provided objective answers to the questions raised by the information officers during the open forum of the Mindanao Communicators Network (MindaComNet)-Caraga Regional Congress in Butuan City on April 29–30, 2024. (Photo: PIA-Caraga)
Antonio Peralta, chairperson of the European Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines (ECCP), emphasized how travel advisories and exaggerated news negatively impact the business environment in Mindanao and deter travelers and investors from investing in the region. He pointed out that regardless of any enhancements made, the perception of Mindanao must change in order for substantial progress to occur.
Emelian
Lawansa, head of the Area Management Office of the Mindanao Development
Authority (MinDA) in Northeastern Mindanao, presented the Strategic Mindanao
Agenda 2023-2028, a socio-economic imperative that called for strategic actions
that are aligned with the economic agenda of the current administration.
"The
Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Plan is a 30-year plan that was formulated
in 2010. It is a clear vision of what Mindanao will be by 2030," he said.
In the
promotion of a peaceful Caraga, according to Philippine National Police
Regional Office 13 director, PBGen. Kirby John P. Kraft, represented by PCol.
Ringo Z. Zarzoso, regional community affairs and development division chief,
said, “The Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 has maximized its deployment of
personnel on the ground and upgraded its operational and administrative
capabilities. It has widened its interoperability, liaised with other
government agencies, and mobilized its logistical assets to better serve the
public.”
“These
security measures implemented by PNP PRO13 are designed to promote peace and
ensure public safety and internal security in the Caraga region. These
initiatives and programs are in line with the promotion and advocacy of the
national government’s peace and development efforts in Mindanao,” Zarzoso said.
In a
discussion entitled "Love the Philippines: Promotion, Marketing
Strategies, and Advocacy Campaign on Sustainable Tourism for Mindanao
Development," Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga Regional Director Ivonnie
Dumadag shared that she just joined the different sectors in the Cagayan de Oro
City for the three-day Mindanao Travel Expo (MTEx) 2024, as the department
fully promotes Mindanao as a vibrant, safe, and relatively beautiful island to
visit.
Dumadag
also gave an overview of the rich history and culture of Caraga region, as well
as the branding campaign of the country, "LOVE the Philippines."
"The
L represents rich biodiversity; O represents the award-winning beauty of the
surfing spots and destinations; V means festivity; and E represents love for
the economy. From landscape to cultural aspects of the country are represented
in this branding campaign," she said.
“This
LOVE the Philippines branding campaign is in support of the National Tourism
Development Plan. DOT's mission is to encourage, promote, and develop tourism
as a major socio-economic activity to generate foreign currency and local
employment, ultimately spreading the benefits of tourism to both the private
and public sectors,” she added.
Meanwhile,
in the open forum, MinDA noted their plan on how to sustain the activity and
stimulate the cooperation of the information officers in the regions and in the
entire Mindanao in communicating the development and countering issues and
concerns that hindered the development in the region.
Acknowledging
the challenges in terms of resources for the communicators, it is further
believed that there will never be enough resources; however, everyone can bank
on the strength of the communicators when it comes to capabilities.
During the workshop activity of the Mindanao Communicators Network (MindaComNet) at the Caraga Regional Congress in Butuan City, information officers had the opportunity to brainstorm with other participants on the challenges perceived and enabling conditions to sustain the information network and establish the relevance to revive the MindaComNet. With the guidance of the information center managers of the Philippine Information Agency Caraga, information officers were able to submit action plans and recommendations to the Mindanao Development Authority on how to sustain MindaComNet and have more collaborations in the future. (Photo: PIA-Caraga)
The finale of the Congress engaged the participants, who were grouped into five, and identified some challenges perceived and enabling conditions to sustain the information network and establish its relevance to reviitalize MindaComNet.
The
information officers of the local government units in the Province of Dinagat
Islands, along with the IOs from the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA),
Department of Information and Communications and Technology (DICT), and Office
of Civil Defense (OCD), recognized the challenges in sustaining the information
network, provided the strengths to sustain the network, and recommended some
projects and activities that the IOs may want to pursue for sustainability.
On the other hand, MinDA, PNP, and the Philippine Army, as panel members of the press conference, supported the peace and security status of the region, affirming that indeed, Caraga is peaceful, beautiful, and bountiful. (RLE/PIA-Caraga)
