DAVAO ORIENTAL – Members of the Provincial Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) Strategic Communications Cluster have outlined their consolidated plans to effectively communicate the government’s peace and development initiatives, particularly President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 70 down to the grassroots level.
The crafting of the communication plan was held during the Strategic Communication Cluster Planning and Workshop on EO 70 on October 11, 2019 at the Honey’s Hotel, Barangay Matiao, City of Mati.
Among the identified communication strategies were the strengthening of the utilization of the traditional tri-media to be complemented by modern channels such as the social media and other online platforms.
Also included in the roster of strategies include focus group discussions, dialogues, events for the youth sector and various fora.
PTF-ELCAC Strategic Communication Cluster members also agreed on the planned utilization of all media platforms in the effort towards educating the people especially through the radio that could reach the farthest hinterland communities.
These strategies aim to address the communication problems such as the lack of knowledge and understanding of the general public, particularly the Indigenous People’s communities, the government workers and the youth sector on the works of the government to improve the lives of the people.
The cluster also prioritizes the IPs and youth sector as the main audience of the communication strategy as they are among the most vulnerable sectors of the Communist recruitment.
Jeanevive Abangan, Information Officer VI of the Philippine Information Agency XI, who facilitated the workshop gave lectures in the crafting the communication plan specifically designed to complement local government unit’s peace and development thrusts. She also presented the Region XI Strategic Communication Operational Framework and Regional Implementation Plan as basis for the crafting of localized communication plans.
“In communicating our advocacy, we must understand our audience first before we make our messaging presentations,” said Abangan.
Karen Lou V. Deloso, Provincial Information Officer and the provincial cluster head said that the role of the members of Strategic Communication cluster in communicating the government’s efforts down to the grassroots cannot be overemphasized. “Our role as communicators does not stop in merely informing but we help shape public opinion and ultimately galvanize people to action and become advocates in our cause to help foster sustainable peace for everyone,” she said.
Davao Oriental’s feats in peace and development is in line with President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Executive Order 70 and Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang’s Executive Order 13 for the provincial version that calls for the whole-of-the-nation approach to end the decades-long communist armed struggle. The government believes that achieving its ultimate goal is possible through if reinforced by intensified information dissemination.
Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang believes that all people especially those living in the hinterlands must experience equal opportunities in all forms of development especially by getting informed and encourage their participation in governance for the betterment of their respective communities.
“We are prioritizing and harmonizing the delivery of basic services and social development packages in conflict-affected areas and vulnerable communities,” said Governor Dayanghirang adding that an informed, educated and empowered community will strengthen the province’s mission under its peace and development agenda.
Hosted by the Provincial Governor’s Chief of Staff Office through Provincial Information Office and facilitated by the Philippine Information Agency Region XI, the gathering dubbed as Strategic Communications Action Planning Workshop was participated by focal persons from 701st Infantry Brigade, 67th Infantry Battalion, 28th Infantry Battalion, Davao Oriental Provincial Police Office, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, National Commission on Indigenous People, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Education Davao Oriental and City of Mati Schools Divisions, Department of Information Communications Technology, Provincial Tourism Office and Provincial Civil Security Unit. By Van Jorain O. Rufin/Photos by Rhea Shane Laureano
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