PAGADIAN
CITY, 03 Dec (PIA) – Close to 200 public information
and relations officers attended the “2012 Mindanao Communicators’ Congress”
held at Waterfront Insular Hotel, Lanang, Davao City on November 28-30, 2012.
The gathering is an annual event of the Mindanao
Communicators Network Inc. (MINDACOMNET) in cooperation with the Philippine
Information Agency (PIA). This year’s theme is “Communicating Mindanao’s
Opportunities and Best Practices.”
Davao City Mayor Sara Z.
Duterte-Carpio in her welcome message during the opening program read by Robert
Alabado, City Planning Officer said the media/ information officers play an important
role in this country in delivering accurate messages.
“May I ask you to utilize
your talents to promote harmony and peace in our region,” Mayor Carpio urged.
“Your words are your
weapons, therefore, utilize your way with words to promote our Mindanao. Be
heralds of good news, highlight the talents and the diversity of Mindanaoans,”
the lady Mayor emphasized.
“Talk about the beauty of
our land, about the works of business and tourism opportunities that abounds
here in the island of promise,” she added.
Together, let us do our part to advance peace and development
and usher in a better Mindanao for all of us, the city Mayor concluded.
On the other hand, Presidential Communication
Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Sonny Coloma in his keynote address said
that the biggest opportunities in Mindanao today is “peace”. It is not only
peace but peace dividends.
Secretary Coloma was referring to the recent signing of
the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement between the Government of the Philippines
(GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
He said leaders around the world, heads of state, hail
the signing of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement as a very significant note.
“With peace we can open up the bountiful resources of
all of Mindanao to as far as Tawi-Tawi. Our nation is very rich in natural and
human resources, but there is a lot more to be done,” Coloma said. (JPA/CAL/PIA9)