Gov’t communicators gather for journalism skills upgrading

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/411502876044/gov-t-communicators-gather-for-journalism-skills-upgrading
• Friday, August 18, 2017

By VENUS MAY H. SARMIENTO

URDANETA CITY, Aug. 18 (PIA) - Information officers of government line agencies and local government units gathered here Monday for a skill upgrading seminar on Journalism.

The government communicators, collectively known as the Pangasinan Association of Government Information Officers (PAGIO), underwent a refresher seminar-workshop on writing news and feature stories which will aid them in their everyday job.

PAGIO, organized on March 2003 by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), has elected its new set of officers in a general assembly. It aims to advocate programs of the national government and encourage the public to become partners for change.

“Napakagandang pagkakataon ito sa aming mga public relations at information officers na masanay at madagdagan ang kaalaman para ang maiuulat ay magiging more reliable at accurate para sa kapakanan na rin ng mamamayan,” said Oscar Navata, PAGIO’s current president.

Veteran Pangasinense journalists Rhee Fer Hortaleza and Gabriel Cardinoza shared their knowledge and expertise on news and feature writing to the government journalists.

“Like a true-blue journalist, an information officer should be knowledgeable as they likewise convey information to the public. Pagbutihan ninyo and inyong trabaho sa posisiyon na ‘yan because you count a lot in your offices,” Hortaleza told the PAGIO members.

The specific PAGIO activity was conducted in cooperation with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). A study tour of the re-regulating pond managed by NIA was held after the seminar.

“You serve as the mouthpiece of your agency in dispensing reliable and accurate information through the implementation of your communication plan. Many people will be relying on you,” said NIA Regional Director John Celeste to the information officers.

PAGIO is a non-profit, non-stock corporation existing and incorporated as such under Philippine laws which aims to establish a cohesive body of persons in the area of information and advocacy programs which will embody the sentiment and aspiration of its members.