In a proactive move to adapt to the dynamic social media landscape of communication, Information Officers from the Central Office, 16 Regional Offices and five (5) Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Clusters of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) participated in a training activity focused on news story development and social media management.
Dubbed “Communication and Social Media Training for DPWH Information Officers”, the event held February 7, 2024 at The Bayleaf Intramuros, Manila, was graced by DPWH OIC-Undersecretary for Support Services Marichu A. Palafox and DPWH Stakeholders Relations Service (SRS) Director Randy R. del Rosario, with esteemed guest speakers from Presidential Communications Office (PCO) headed by Undersecretary for Digital Media Services Emerald Anne R. Ridao.
The training covered topics on social media management and content creation, news writing, as well as the latest DPWH policy instructions, and review on the proposed updating of communication manual for DPWH Information Officers.
PCO Undersecretary Ridao, who has over a decade of expertise in content creation and digital media relations, emphasized the importance of utilizing all available online channels for a broader reach and more effective communication campaign for government agencies.
She also shared some industry techniques to maximize reach and engagement for every social media platform and highlighted the importance of maintaining a consistent online presence while being responsive to public inquiries and concerns.
“The DPWH currently operates pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, for social marketing and citizen engagement. We hope to replicate these strategies so we can better inform the public about our services,” said OIC-Undersecretary Palafox.
Director Del Rosario said that the workshop, organized by SRS-Public Information Division, reflects the DPWH commitment under the leadership of Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan to staying ahead in communication strategies, ensuring a more informed citizenry, and fostering meaningful engagement in the digital age.
The training empowered DPWH Information Officers to play a pivotal role in disseminating accurate and timely information to the public.
Participants engaged in hands-on exercises, learning how to tailor content to diverse audiences.
The workshop also highlighted sample practical case studies from social media contents, providing valuable insights into best practices.
PCO - Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Assistant Director-General Allan Vincent B. Lorenzo and Mr. Kier Gideon Paolo M. Gapayao also shared their insights on effective news writing for government agencies.