RTF8-ELCAC 8 Stratcom Cluster engages Mahaplag youth as info volunteers

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 5, 2020): RTF8-ELCAC 8 Stratcom Cluster engages Mahaplag youth as info volunteers (By PIA-8)

MAHAPLAG, Leyte, Oct. 4 (PIA) -- Thirty-five youth leaders of Mahaplag, Leyte have accepted the challenge of becoming partners of government as information volunteers.

The Strategic Communications Cluster of the Regional Task Force 8 - ELCAC through PIA 8 Regional Head Olive Tiu, engaged the youth of Mahaplag, Leyte to become partners in the promotion of right information, dismissing disinformation, promoting their LGUs, and helping achieve sustainable peace and development by becoming information volunteers.

Speaking to Mahaplag youth leaders on October 3, the second day of the three-day Linggo ng Kabataan Youth Leader’s Camp 2020 with the theme, “Kabataang Mahaplaganon, Kauban sa Paglambo, Simbolo sa Kaugmaon” at the Headquarters of the 14IB, Brgy. Uguis, Mahaplag, Leyte, Dir. Tiu explained who are information volunteers, and what information volunteers do.

The government, Director Tiu said, reaches out to citizens with accurate information through various platforms such as social media, radio, television, newspapers and info cast.

Not all information, however, reaches the targeted audience, thus, many citizens fail to avail of government services. Worse, sometimes, people are misinformed with fake information.

Thus, citizens, including the youth, are called upon to take part in the campaign to share the good news to Filipinos who need them most, especially in the geographically isolated and depressed areas, and to see to it that people especially the youth are not misled by fake news and deceptive promises.

The information volunteers also help by giving feedback on the issues and concerns that affect them and their communities so that appropriate agencies can address the same.

Information volunteers spread the good news and information by disseminating them to their families, relatives, friends and neighbors. Sharing of information may be through text messages, social media, inter-personal communication or any other appropriate platform to community members.

Director Tiu trained the new information volunteers on the format in sending SMS, and gave them tips on sending the right photos and how to take video clips.

To ensure that the info volunteers understood the lecture, a simulation activity was conducted on how to send SMS. Ms. Erlinda Caadyang received a cash prize from Dir. Tiu, for being the first to submit an information and for using the right format as taught them.

The information volunteers can prevent the spread of fake news by consulting with and verifying with the appropriate government agency or with PIA and sharing the correct news to the community members.

The Ad Hoc officers for the Mahaplag Information Volunteers are Mahaplag SK Federation President Jose T. Amarado II, Jan Rex Yunzal, a representative from the 14th IB and a young representative from PNP Mahaplag.

The activity which was participated by Youth Leaders, composed of 15 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairpersons, 15 SK Officials and one (1) Barangay Secretary from the different barangays of Mahaplag, Leyte, was spearheaded by the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) Mahaplag, Leyte with its Chairperson, Hon. Daisy A. Lleve, Municipal Mayor and the 14th Infantry (AVENGER) Battalion under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Roberto B. Obaob, commanding officer. (PIA 8)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1055106