CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) -- Philippine Information Agency Director General Jose "Joe" A. Torres Jr. encouraged the public information and tourism officers in Central Visayas to embrace innovation and creativity in bridging the gap between the government and the people.
In his speech during the opening of the 25th Regional Association of Development Information Officers (RADIO-7) Convention on June 28 in Mandaue City, Cebu, Torres emphasized the importance of recognizing the power of social media in shaping the public's opinion and in disseminating information.
He said that "in a society inundated with information from various sources, it is essential to cut through the noise and deliver messages that resonate with our citizens."
"With over 75 million social media users, it is crucial for government communicators to effectively utilize these platforms to promote engagement, responsiveness, and transparency in the government," Torres added.
With the Philippines being a diverse nation in terms of culture, language, and socio-economic background, he said traditional methods are no longer sufficient to capture public interest.
Tailoring of communication strategies is needed to gain a wider reach of audiences from different segments of society, he added.
The PIA chief also discussed artificial intelligence in his message, saying that "it is our duty as government communicators to ensure that AI systems are designed and implemented with transparency and fairness, following ethical guidelines and regulations."
Torres capped his speech by urging all government communicators to be vigilant while reminding them of their duties to promote digital literacy, responsible online behavior, and in practicing critical thinking toward strategic communication.
"Together, let us embrace the power of technology and strategic communication to create a more informed, engaged, and participatory society," he said.
The RADIO-7 Convention this year resumed after a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 140 public information and tourism officers in Central Visayas in attendance.
This year’s convention carries the theme “Strengthening Digital Information for Sustainable Tourism Development Towards Economic Recovery'' which aims to revitalize the tourism industry by strengthening the collaboration among the public information officers (PIOs) in exploiting the digital spaces in promoting and showcasing the tourism wonders in Central Visayas.
This year’s regional convention is hosted by the Cebu Association of City and Municipal Public Information Officers (CAOCAMPIO).
The City Government of Lapu-lapu, Mandaue, Cebu, Danao, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, Municipalities of Tuburan, Department of Tourism, CCLEX, Aboitiz, Globe, Smart Communications, and other institutions from both public and private sectors have partnered with the CAOCAMPIO for the event.
RADIO-7 is an umbrella organization of five associations of PIOs in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquiijor.
The government information associations organized by the PIA in the provinces take turns in hosting the annual regional convention.
The 24th RADIO-7 Convention was held in Bohol in 2018.
The convention this year was made possible through the support of the Department of Tourism, Lapu Lapu City LGU, Mandaue City LGU, Cebu City LGU, LMP-Cebu Chapter, CCLEX, Globe, 4 A’s and G Beach Resort, Mactan Cebu International Airport, Municipality of Tuburan, Municipality of Bantayan, Municipality of Dumanjug, City of Naga, Talisay City LGU, Carcar City LGU, Ramon Durano Family Foundation Inc., Cong. Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority, Mactan Airline Operations Council, Danao City LGU, Ako Bisaya Partylist, PLDT, Smart, GCash, RDAK Transport Equipment Inc., Daewoo Trucks, Brown Clothing Cebu, Fuel Kitchen Bar, KEPCO SPC Power Corp., Liyang Aggregates Corp., Hsinlei Development Corp., Quirante Construction Corp., Sunshine Shin Beach Resort, and Buddy Sky and Travel. (MYP/PIA7 Cebu)
