CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has partnered with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in promoting environmental awareness in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region using the PIA’s digital and traditional media platforms.

Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria of the DENR and PIA Calabarzon Director Ma. Cristina Arzadon signed an agreement to promote the various environmental initiatives and directives of the department through the agency’s online platforms and radio programs in Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon.

Tamoria recognized the reach of PIA Calabarzon’s platforms in disseminating timely and relevant information through its radio and social media platforms and in countering disinformation.

One of the goals of the partnership is to inspire change in the everyday behavior of the public and to inspire more advocacies in environmental protection, Tamoria added.

“Ang effectiveness po ng ating partnership ay hindi makukuha kung ilang press release, photo release, ilang radio programs ang ating magagawa. Kundi yung ilang tao na nagkaroon ng pagbabago ng gawi ng buhay sa pang-araw araw dahil lang sa naintindihan nila ang adbokasiya sa pangangalaga, pamamahala, at pagprotekta sa ating kapaligiran,” he said.

In her message, Arzadon thanked the DENR for recognizing PIA’s contribution in advancing environmental programs and campaigns in the region using traditional and new media platforms.

“We offer these platforms for the DENR to realize its mandate. Being the government’s chief communications arm, our mandate is to help create an enlightened citizenry empowered to make informed decisions,” she said.

Arzadon hopes that through this partnership, the DENR will be able to realize its goal of helping communities conserve, manage, and utilize the country's natural resources.

The agreement was signed on Monday, May 22 with Laguna Provincial Information Center Manager Christopher Hedreyda and DENR’s Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Jose Elmer C. Bascos.

Key topics for discussion in PIA programs include the National Greening Program, marine wildlife conservation, reforestation projects, and effects of climate change.

Tamoria recognized the possible hurdles to an effective information drive such as the retention capacity of the public to long-form contents, filled with scientific terminologies.

“Dahilan sa dami ng impormasyon, ang retention capacity ng tao ay napaka-iksi. Pero dahil science ang ipapaliwanag mo, kailangan mo ng mas mahabang puwang. Yun po ang hamon at ang pasasalamat namin sa PIA.”

He added: “Ang hamon din sa DENR ay kung paano ang teknikal at scientific na terminologies at mga pag-aaral ay mailagay sa isang layperson’s language at maka-adapt dun sa bagong pamamaraan at teknolohiya.”

Tamoria is hopeful that the partnership would bear more collaboration among government agencies to attain a common goal.

“Let this partnership be an effective tool in raising awareness and competencies of the residents of CALABARZON in our environmental protection, conservation, and management,” Tamoria said. (CH/PIA-Laguna)