BAGUIO CITY – Accentuating the role of government information officers and the mass media in disseminating information to the general public, the Philippine Information Agency- Cordillera reconvened the Association of Government Information Officers (ASGIOCO) last week at the SSS Office here.
Veteran newsman and seasoned government info officer Ramon Dacawi, discussed the role of information officers. Being the spokesperson for the agency, GIOs he said conduct researches, develop news stories and coordinate media campaigns. They organize news conferences, prepare media briefing kits and press releases and handle the publication of newsletters.
PIA-CAR Director Helen Tibaldo, who serves as ASGIOCO adviser, also shared who a 21st century communicator is in this time of globalization and rapid technology growth.
Outgoing president Dr. Manuel Quirino presented the highlights of ASGIOCO accomplishments over the last few years that included concert for a cause for kidney patients.
The participants from the different line agencies and local government units also had a chance to interact with some members of the media led by Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club president Dhobie de Guzman.
The group also elected their interim officers led by Joel Arthur Tibaldo of the Department of Trade and Industry; Vice president – Georaloy Palao-ay of Dept. of Education; Secretary – Diane Rivera of the Office of Civil Defense; Treasurer – Atty. Noemi Humilde of the Dept. of Budget and Management; Auditor – Joseph Calulut of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency; Press Relations Officer – Job Manalang of the Commission on Population; Board of Directors – Soledad Benwaren of the National Police Commission, Cyr Bagayao of Philippine Military Academy, and Nerizza Faye Villanueva of the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development.
The officers agreed to have their first meeting on December 5 to plan out activities of the association./JDP/MAWC–PIA CAR
