The DILG National Capital Region’s Public Information Unit (PIU) received a commendation from the Public Affairs and Communication Service (PACS) of the DILG Central Office for its communication initiatives in the planning, development, and implementation of various communication efforts of the Department in 2024.

As head of the Local Governance Resource Center’s (LGRC) Public Education on Good Governance, Development, and Citizenship Facility, the PIU spearheads the management of publication and development of content, media kits, annual reports and other program campaign materials.

With its regional and field information officers, the PIU has been instrumental in promulgating DILG’s communication directives as well as imparting information, education, and communication strategies related to the programs, projects, and activities of the Department. In programs such as the “Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan” (KALINISAN) and the “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” (BIDA) program in 2024, the PIU contributed in highlighting the program undertakings most especially through documentation and other publicity campaigns using the DILG National Capital Region’s website and social media pages and accounts. 

Significantly, the PIU, under the guidance of DILG-NCR Regional Director Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, CESO III, has played an active role in expanding opportunities by strengthening the writing competencies of the DILG-NCR personnel. In RD Agustin’s vision of creating communication innovations for the Department, she emphasized the importance of upskilling the DILG-NCR’s roster of officers in developing writing proficiencies that create human interest stories, which are among the initiatives that the PIU has championed. 

In the creative workshop on audio-visual presentations for DILG-NCR personnel and local functionaries of Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG)-recipient LGUs, Regional Information Officer Ronald R. Portales and Information Officer Byron P. Nabua presented communication strategies and tips on powerful storytelling through scriptwriting, storyboarding and basic photography. 

Also, Information Officers Tracey Jayne L. Molina and Selwyn Oswald C. Opeña led the documentation of locally funded projects monitored by the DILG-NCR’s Project Development and Management Unit (PDMU), as well as the testimonies of beneficiary communities, which were all featured in the PDMU-NCR’s Facebook page and Information Content Hub through the “Kwentong Local Government Support Fund (LGSF)” series. 

In the “Write Right: Effective Communication though News Writing” workshop in collaboration with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the DILG-NCR information officers from both the regional and field offices came in full force supporting the activity’s resource speakers in the discussions on the fundamentals of news writing and the principles of effective communication strategies in local government. 

Through the efforts of the PIU, the DILG-NCR’s commitment to championing human-interest stories not only fosters a deeper connection with the stakeholders and the community but also amplifies the voices and experiences that inspire positive change and strengthen public trust.