AFP holds social media confab to ‘connect’ with Pinoys — Newsbytes.ph

From InterAksyon (Jul 12): AFP holds social media confab to ‘connect’ with Pinoys — Newsbytes.ph

AFP chief of staff Emmanuel, who is known is social media circles as “Manny Sundalo,” giving his speech at the event. Newsbytes.ph file photo

 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has put a new meaning to its ongoing modernization program as it staged on Friday, July 11, the AFP 1st Social Media Summit at the AFP Theatre in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

 

This time, the AFP attempted to update itself — not with arms and fighter jets — but with social media skills in order to be more open and closer to the people.

The summit sought to enhance the AFP’s online reputation, strengthen nationalism, and public service awareness through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media.

Over a thousand participants from the Department of National Defence, Philippine National Police, academe, government agencies, private groups and civil-society graced the event.

Brigadier General Romeo Gan, chief of the Civil Relations Service of the AFP, said, “The summit will improve the AFP’s initiatives in information and communication management, enhance the skills of social media managers and build a bigger network with AFP’s civilian counterparts. It will also establish a structure or mechanism that will synergize and harness social media efforts to achieve organizational and national goals.”

 

Gen. Bautista being interviewed by the media. Newsbytes.ph file photo

 

AFP is already in Facebook since 2009, posting updates and programs as well as news of national concern. A year later, it joined Twitter broadening their social media networks. Currently, AFP’s Facebook page has over 77, 000 followers with more than 200 visits daily. Their Twitter account has almost 27,000 followers. The AFP also has its own blog, aside from the official website.

“It is just about time that the AFP maximizes Internet tools such as the social media to strengthen their connection to the people and optimize communication avenues in social media,” emphasized Ana Pista, managing director of Ardent Communications Inc (ArdentComm) and one of the speakers.

The event was organized by the Media and Civil Affairs Group and AFP Civil-Military Operations School (AFP-CMOS), and public relations agency ArdentComm.

Earlier this year, AFP-CMOS ALSO conducted the 20-day extensive seminar and training on Social Media Management Training.

http://www.interaksyon.com/infotech/afp-holds-social-media-confab-to-connect-with-pinoys-newsbytes-ph