THE Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and two other agencies yesterday inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) aimed at effectively disseminating information about the government’s efforts to promote and achieve peace in the country.
PCO Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil signed the agreement with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) represented by Director General Jose Torres Jr. and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), represented by Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
The three agencies committed to developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic communications plan to promote peace and development in the country.
Under the MOA, PCO, which is the co-lead agency of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Group (NTF-ELCAC), shall be responsible for the development, conceptualizing, and production of information, education and communication (IEC) materials; and the establishment of online presence of the Local Peace Engagements (LPE) and Transformation Program (TP) of the OPAPRU through the PCO and its attached agencies’ digital assets.
The PIA, an attached agency of the PCO, shall serve as the information network of the government in reaching the grassroots level through media orientation workshops on target regions in the country and baseline survey reports.
The OPAPRU shall develop and implement the comprehensive strategic communications plan to carry out the LPE and TP with the help of the PCO and the PIA and conduct workshops on the principles and tools of Conflict Sensitive and peace-promoting (CSPP) Communities, among others.
Velicaria-Garafil, during the event, emphasized the importance of having effective communication as a catalyst for transformation especially in conflict-affected areas in the country.
“Beyond mere information dissemination, we aim to craft messages that resonate with diverse communities, building bridges of trust and understanding … We are dedicated to countering misinformation and crafting narratives that inspire, educate, and uplift,” she said.
