“Working without a plan is like sailing without a compass” says OPA, thus it convened all the regional informations officers of DILG for a three-day strategic communications planning in Tagaytay City from February 24-26, 2010.

The information officers presented their respective 2010 communications plan for comments and/or suggestions by the group to further improve such plan. The communication plan of each region must contain the communication activities for the priority and demand-driven programs of the Department as presented by Dir. Arlene Zamora of the Planning Service during the workshop.

Aside from communications planning, the I.Os presented their respective innovations and best practices as far as the activities of the information unit is concerned. For Region V, Joy Tango presented the successful conduct of the Media and Communication Exercises for LGU Information Officers in 2009 and the monthly publication of “Hamodyong” – the official newsletter of DILG V.

The RIOs also made an appeal to the central management through the Office of Public Affairs that funds be allotted for the communication activities of DILG programs, look into the possibility of upgrading the position of information officer and the conduct of skills/enhancement training on writing for print and broadcast media in order for them to be more effective in their work as IO and maximize the use of media in  promoting the government.