By Ma. Joreina Therese A. Blanco/PIA 1-Ilocos Norte
With the aim to revive the province’s public information network, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Region I convened members of the Association of Ilocos Norte Information Officers (AINIO) for its first general assembly (GA) on September 19 at the Laoag City Conference Room, here.
Over 30 information officers (IO) from local government units, national government agencies, and private stakeholders attended the first GA for 2019 which involved reorganization of the IO group and election of the new set of officers for 2019 to 2021.
In her opening remarks, PIA-1 Regional Director Jennilyne Role stressed the importance of the IOs in bringing down information on the programs and services of the government down to the grassroots level.
“Kayo ang nasa frontline sa inyong ahensya sa pagbibigay ng wasto at tamang impormasyon. Sa inyo rin nalalaman ng publiko na ang gobyerno ay nagtatrabaho,” the regional director said.
During the assembly, Director Role has introduced to the IOs the PIA’s banner program in combatting fake news and disinformation through responsible use of social media.
“In social media, we have to present our best selves and post timely, relevant, and accurate information to the public,” the regional director stressed.
Aside from the talk on social media, she has also included the campaign on #CyberREADi, which aims to promote cyber wellness and responsible use of internet and other platforms among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-member communities.
“We have the letters R-E-A-D-I which spells Responsibility, Empathy, Authenticity, Discernment, and Integrity. We think of these things when we use the internet,” Role added.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) attached bureau, the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), was also present during the assembly to talk about their programs and services, particularly on the benefits for work-related contingencies.
The GA was closed through an election of new set of AINIO officers for two terms.
In the end, the body has elected Jorge Richard Guerrero of the Department of Agrarian Reform as the AINIO President.
Followed by Ana Carmela Remigio of the City Government of Laoag as Vice President, Ma. Corazon Racela of Department of Trade and Industry as Secretary, Angelica Yumul of the City Government of Batac as Treasurer, Abigail Siano of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority as Auditor, Cedrick John Dumbrique of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte and Clenntroy Vicka Guzman of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center as Public Relations Officer.
Jorge Guerrero has expressed gratitude for electing him as president and vowed to uphold the aim of the association which is to empower Filipino through verified information. (Ma. Joreina Therese A. Blanco/PIA 1-Ilocos Norte)
