DENR-IX STRENGTHENS ITS INFORMATION ARM

Chief Admin. Division Benjamin A. Rubia (right) delivers the

opening remarks before the participants to the orientation

workshop on February 18-20, 2013 at Bay Plaza Hotel,

Pagadian City. (Photo taken by Rommel B. Pacardo)

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region IX, Zamboanga Peninsula conducted recently a three-day orientation workshop and action planning on its  CY 2013 priority programs for information, education and communication (I. E. C.) campaign for designated information officers, region wide held at the Bay Plaza Hotel, this city.

In his opening remarks during the program, Administrative Division Chief Benjamin A. Rubia who represented Regional Executive Director (RED) Arleigh J. Adorable encouraged participants to develop communication skills and acquire a comprehensive understanding of the Department’s program thrusts. “As information officers, the alignment of DENR programs towards President Benigno C.  Aquino’s societal goal   integrity in the environment and climate change mitigation and adaptation must be clearly spelled out by you to the people” Rubia added.

Appointed and designated information officers from DENR field offices are counterpart of the Regional Public Affairs Office (RPAO) – the information arm of the Department which implements the IEC program in the region.

RED Arleigh J. Adorable said earlier that the activity was undertaken in line with the Department’s mandate for the conduct of IEC campaign for all DENR projects and programs in order to reach out and generate knowledge and advocacy to its different clienteles.

“Owing to the fact that these information officers are mostly technical personnel and performing technical work, there is a need to orient them on the different priority programs and projects and equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills in order for them to be fully functional information officers” Director Adorable said.

Participants were oriented on the different DENR CY 2013 priority programs and projects; equipped  on the knowledge and skills in news writing and photojournalism; and submitted their individual IEC action plan to be implemented in their respective  (Provincial/Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices/sectors/lines bureaus) offices.

Topics discussed during the three-day activity include: Strategies in Communicating  DENR’s programs and projects; Adopt-An-Estero & Solid Waste Management; Public Land Titling  under Land Patents; National Greening Program; Forest Land Use Planning; Philippine Reference System of 1992/Adopt-A-Mojon Program; Web Media Management, Biological Diversity Conservation & Sustainable Development; Geo-hazard and Responsible Mining;  and Climate Change:  Mitigation  and Adaptation Strategies.

They were also trained on news writing and photojournalism which were handled by Assistant Regional Director Franklin Gumapon and Pagadian City Information Center Manager Claro Lanipa, respectively- both from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region IX. (H. A. Ascura/DENR -9 PR).