METRO MANILA—Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has affirmed its commitment to bolster the communication and outreach efforts of the Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO) in promoting the BARMM Government’s programs and projects across the Bangsamoro region.
The commitment came after the successful benchmarking activity conducted by the BIO at the PCO on June 23 in the Malacañang and Quezon City, Metro Manila. The objective of this activity was to equip the BIO with valuable knowledge and experience regarding the operations of the office and its attached agencies.
PCO Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil expressed utmost satisfaction with the BIO’s visit and assured them of the PCO’s readiness to provide assistance in future collaborations and partnerships.
“We are very honored, we are very happy that you’ve come to us to help you […] Anytime you need our help for more collaborations, please feel free to come to us. We are all here to help you,” Secretary Velicaria-Garafil said.
Meanwhile, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director-General Jose A. Torres Jr. commended the BIO for their dedication to providing accurate, relevant, and timely information to the public in order to combat misinformation and disinformation.
He also expressed PIA’s commitment to support BIO’s communication endeavors aimed at promoting the programs and projects of the Bangsamoro Government and the national government, particularly in sustaining the gains of the peace process.
“Our partnership with the Bangsamoro Information Office holds great potential for mutually beneficial collaborations. Together, we can explore various avenues to amplify our impact and promote inclusive and accurate information dissemination,” Torres said.
Meanwhile, BIO Executive Director Ameen Andrew Alonto conveyed the BIO’s commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and trust in disseminating accurate and reliable information in the BARMM region during a meeting with the officials of the PCO.
Recognizing their shared mission of facilitating effective communication between the government and the people, Alonto looks forward for future collaborations between the BIO and PCO.
“We firmly believe that by working together, we can address the challenges posed by disinformation and misinformation, while also empowering our communities with accurate information and engaging them in meaningful dialogue,” he stressed.
He further said that this collaboration will give both organizations the chance to explore avenues to strengthen their joint efforts in information dissemination and countering disinformation.
The BIO Chief expressed his appreciation to the entire PCO for warmly welcoming the BARMM’s information team and providing invaluable insights into various operational aspects, which include the media accreditation policy, the conduct of press conferences and briefings, engagement with attached offices, and the potential for capacity development and skills enhancement support.
“I would like to express our enthusiasm for this opportunity to sit down with the PCO. Together, we have a better chance to shape a more informed, engaged, and resilient community within BARMM,” Alonto said.
The BIO delegations toured the different offices of PCOs communication network, such as the PIA, People’s Television Network (PTV), Philippine News Agency (PNA), Radyo Pilipinas, and Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM).
This benchmarking activity was supported by the European Union in the Philippines through the Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) Programme. (Aisah Abas/Myrna Tepadan/BIO)
