The DILG National Capital Region and the Philippine Information Agency – National Capital Region collaborated in equipping DILG-NCR personnel with competencies in news writing through the Write Right: Effective Communication and Storytelling of Development Projects through News Writing training activity on December 11-12, 2024 at the PIA Auditorium, Philippine Information Agency Building, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City. Participated by representatives from both the DILG regional and field offices, the workshop aims to strengthen the Department’s public information and communication efforts through the development of a more unified and systematic manner of creating press releases and documenting implementation of DILG activities and programs.
In his opening remarks, PIA-NCR Regional Director welcomed the DILG-NCR personnel and extended his gratitude towards the Department for the opportunity of hosting a workshop that is vital in every agency. He further stressed the importance of empowering communicators in public service who can make an impact by developing depth in writing.
Shortly after, DILG-NCR Regional Director Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, CESO III recalled the Department’s continuous efforts in upscaling the skills of the DILG-NCR personnel in storytelling through powerful write-ups and press releases. She gave a background on the Department’s previous writing workshops, one of which is the partnership with Galing Pook, which aided in writeshop outputs that yielded success in the Galing Pook selection of city awardees. She emphasized how the DILG aims to constantly upskill its current roster of officers in becoming effective communicators of human-interest stories in the government with its partnership with the Philippine Information Agency.
For two days, the participants engaged in discussions and workshops on the fundamentals of news writing, the concepts of information disorder in today’s media landscape, the components of news articles, principles of effective communication strategies, and basic photography.
In closing, PIA-NCR Assistant Regional Director Alice Sicat hoped that the participants were able to utilize the skills developed during the sessions. She further emphasized that these initiatives should contribute towards a more responsible and humane nation in narrating and echoing stories of change.
The DILG-NCR through its Local Governance Resource Center continues to champion empowering its personnel in developing effective communication skills that highlight government initiatives and human-interest stories as witnessed in the transformative effects of local development projects.