Remote towns in Basilan organize barangay info officers

By: Nilda T. Delos Reyes

 

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Sept 20 (PIA) – Three municipalities in Basilan successfully organized their Barangay Information Officers Network (BION) as government information multipliers on the ground.

The municipalities of Ungkaya Pukan, Tipo-Tipo and Albarka has designated their Barangay Information Officers earlier this year and actively participated during the launching and orientation held on September 16 at Tipo-Tipo Gymnasium. 

They were recorded as first municipalities who organized their BION in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Lamitan City was the first to establish BION in BARMM.

 

Mayor Arcam Istarul of Tipo-Tipo municipality, Albarka Mayor Darussalam Lajid, Giovanni Alonzo MLGOO Ungkaya Pukan and Major Jabbar Abdulla of 18^th Infantry Division led the signing of Pledge of Commitment of the Barangay Officers in 16 barangays of Albarka, 12 of Ungkaya Pukan and 11 of Tipo-t ipo.

 

The Barangay Information Officers pledged to fulfill their tasks and responsibilities in empowering their respective communities by promoting good health, peace and development through communication and advocacy.

 

Mayor Arcam Istarul expressed support to the BION as he hopes that they will contribute to the development of their municipality through responsible sharing and dissemination of relevant and accurate information.

 

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 oriented the newly-organized BION of their roles and responsibilities that involved countering fake news to dismiss disinformation and misinformation. 

 

The importance of being armed with knowledge to identify misinformation when it is encountered in the community was emphasized to enable the people to reject misleading information. 

 

The BIONs also held a workshop on community mapping to help them identify their partners and other stakeholders whom they can engage with especially in their advocacies. 

This was followed by role playing of different scenarios usually happened in the community and showed how the BIOs properly disseminate information.

 

The BIONs are very grateful for the opportunity which will help them to productively and effectively perform their duties and responsibilities in their community.

In October 2020, the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government in BARMM through Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo issued a Memorandum directing all Local Chief Executives to designate their Barangay Information Officers in their respective barangays. 

PIA-9 organized the BIONs in these 3 municipalities in collaboration with the MILG Basilan, Provincial Government, 18^th Infantry Battalion and their local government units. 

 

As of this writing, Basilan has already 6 organized BIONs, the Provincial Information Officers Network, BIONs of Isabela City, Lamitan City, Ungkaya Pukan, Tipo-Tipo and Albarka. (RVC/EDT/NDR/PIA9-Basilan)