COOPERATION. OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., PCO Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil and PIA Director General Jose Torres Jr. (left to right) show a copy of the memorandum of agreement they signed in Pasay City on Wednesday (Aug. 30, 2023). The pact provides for cooperation among the three agencies to effectively disseminate government efforts to achieve peace in the country. (Photo courtesy of PCO)

MANILA – The Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) signed a Memorandum of Agreement on Wednesday to effectively disseminate the government’s efforts to achieve peace in the country.

In her speech during the MOA signing ceremony in Pasay City, PCO Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil underscored the importance of effective communication as a catalyst for transformation, particularly in conflict-affected areas in the country.

“Beyond mere information dissemination, we aim to craft messages that resonate with diverse communities, building bridges of trust and understanding … We are dedicated to countering misinformation and crafting narratives that inspire, educate, and uplift,” Secretary Garafil said.

Garafil also expressed hope that the partnership will help empower former rebels and their families as they are integrated into their respective communities and become productive members of society once more.

“Our collective efforts have the potential to transform not only individual destinies but also the destiny of our nation. Let this agreement serve as a guiding light, illuminating the path towards unity, understanding, and prosperity for all,” she said.

Present during the event were OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and PIA Director General Jose Torres Jr.

Under the MOA, the PCO, which co-leads the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Strategic Communications Cluster, will develop and implement a comprehensive strategic communications plan together with OPAPRU and PIA.

Its responsibilities also include developing, conceptualizing, and producing IEC material; and establishing an online presence of the Local Peace Engagements (LPE) and Transformation Program (TP) of the OPAPRU using PCO and its attached agencies’ digital assets.

The PIA, which is an attached agency of the PCO, serves as the information network of the government in reaching the grassroots level as it also leads the media orientation workshops on target regions in the country and produces baseline survey reports.

For this partnership, the OPAPRU will develop and implement the comprehensive strategic communications plan to carry out the LPE and TP with the help of the PCO and the PIA and conduct workshops on the principles and tools of Conflict Sensitive and Peace Promoting (CSPP) Communities, among others.  (PND)