Newly-designated Director-General of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Ramon Cualoping III
By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan (PIA) – Newly-designated Director-General of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Ramon Cualoping III has committed to delivering stronger public service through information and communication at a Pre-SONA virtual public forum, Monday (July 27).
Cualoping III pointed out at the Leading Forward Pre-SONA Forum and Townhall meeting that as the country faces different challenges especially at this time of COVID-19 pandemic, the PIA also continues to battle not only the coronavirus but also the very contagious “fake news” stories to destroy government programs and its battle against COVID-19.
He stressed that the PIA, as an attached agency of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, has the mandate to provide accurate, timely, and relevant information to enable citizens to participate meaningfully in the democratic process and technical assistance to other government agencies regarding communications component of their programs through multimedia strategies.
This agency, he said, utilizes different kinds of platforms like social media, radio, and television to deliver relevant information to the general public.
To further eliminate the spread of fake news and to counter disinformation and empower the entire Filipino family amidst this time of crisis, Cualoping committed that PIA will continue its service to the people through providing reliable information, especially on government plans and programs.
“We, as your government communicators, vow to continue to do our best in serving you by explaining the policies and programs of the Duterte administration that assure and promote the Filipino people and well-being,” DG Cualoping said during the Pre-SONA Forum, as he encouraged communicators to explain in various local dialects and languages through a Website.
DG Cualoping also urged every Filipino to trust the government especially during this time. He also assured the Filipinos that the government under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is working 24/7 to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Duterte administration continues to implement programs that aim to address hunger and help alleviate the lives of marginalized Filipino families,” he said.
In addition, the DG also emphasized that the government’s top priority is to save and protect lives and communities by taking immediate actions using the four “K” strategies which are the Kalusugan, Kabuhayan, Kaayusan at Kinabukasan.
“These are whole-of-government and whole-of-nation-approach in beating COVID-19,” he stressed. (RVC/PIA9-Basilan with reports from Nilda T. Delos Reyes)
