By Dominic I. Sanch
ZAMBOANGA
CITY - While Zamboanga City is moving towards the early
recovery phase after the crisis that lasted 23 days last September and
displaced thousands of people from their homes, there is a need to step up
communication efforts, particularly to create a strong feedback mechanism where
information is shared between the displaced persons and the government and
non-government service providers.
“In
communicating (with the displaced), we have to ask ourselves: Swak ba yung ating ibinibigay? (Are we
giving exact information?)” asked Malou Eudela, humanitarian affairs assistant
for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(UN-OCHA) during a media seminar held here Saturday. UN-OCHA is currently
working with the city government of Zamboanga, the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD) and other agencies in the recovery and rehabilitation
efforts for the IDPs.
Ms.
Eudela added that there have been many instances of miscommunication in cases
such as the one Zamboanga had experienced, and it brought about severe
consequences.
“As
a result of miscommunication, the people experience disillusionment, basically
for the non-delivery of the services that they need and expect,” she said. “In
worst cases, this may lead to angst.”
“The
responses and services provided to them should be guided by their feedback,”
she added.
On
the other hand, Sheila Covarrubias, city information officer said:
“Communication, like food is a basic need. Information is at par with any other
social services provided to the people.”
“The
lack of information or misuse of it can lead to misunderstanding,” she
stressed.
In
light of this information need, the Communicating with Disaster-Affected
Communities (CDAC) Working Group, or CWG was established, which is composed of
the City Information Office (CIO), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and
the different agencies involved in the rehabilitation like the DSWD. More
helping hands came through various other organizations including the UN-OCHA,
the UNICEF, Save the Children and other international non-government organizations.
The
CWG has been developing localized IEC materials for the IDPs’ consumption which
will respond to their information and communication needs. It has been
conducting studies on how best to establish a feedback mechanism between the
IDPs and their service providers. Moreover, the CWG has been closely
coordinating with each other through weekly meetings, and with the private
media through press briefings.
In
the seminar conducted last Saturday, approximately 30 media personalities,
information officers including those from the police and military, and campus
journalists were oriented on the rehabilitation efforts of the city government.
They were briefed on laws pertaining to handling gender and child sensitive
stories.
The
lady mayor said “if we are going to build back Zamboanga, it has got to be a
better one. But this can only be achieved if those who are at the forefront of
information speak with one voice.”
Mayor
Climaco participated in a coordinated sharing of information among the
communication practitioners. (PIA9)