Davao Norte governor recognizes role of gov’t info officers in disaster preparedness

By Gideon C. Corgue

TAGUM CITY – “Your roles as information officers are very important especially in the crucial hours when people need information,” Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario told the participants to the 2013 Mindanao Communicators’ Network in yesterday’s opening program.

Speaking before some 200 information officers gathered at the Big 8 Corporate Hotel here, Governor del Rosario said “ it is trough the information officers that the public is informed of the LGU (local government unit) activities.

“More than reporting the activities of your institutions, most of you have become weather men and women reporting the hour-to-hour weather situation in your localities,” the governor said adding “it is through you that your local chief executives could reach their constituents via airwaves and social media.”

Del Rosario also pointed out that disaster management information shall be delivered timely and effectively.   

“We are called upon by time to level up our development perspectives. Our government sees this modern perspective through its disaster management plans. But what is the use of having these plans if these are not communicated?” De Rosario explained.

“I urge you to trumpet disaster management plans in this changing phenomena in order to bring about behavior change among our people,” del Rosario concluded.

Among those who were present were Philippine Information Agency (PIA) regional directors Noemi B. Edaga of region 9, Abner Caga of CARAGA, Olivia Sudaria of region 12, and Efren Elbanbuena of region 11 who is also the current MindaComnet president.  (PIA9)