PIA, DILG Host Creation of Development Support Council

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA Batanes) in cooperation with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) hosted the organization of Development Support Communication Council which is multi-sectoral in character by inviting representatives from NGO and other agencies who are confirmed to have authority and influence over community members and media orientation, who are bias for action and or facilitation and pro-active on community activities. The creation of DSCC was held on January 25, 2001 wherein the following sectors were fairly represented: business and labor sector, local media, education sector, religious sector, youth, women's sector, local government sector and leagues for local governance.

The objectives of the DSC Council Are to: institutionalize a communication system that will facilitate the conduct of communication programs and research, production, dissemination and communication infrastructure development; to ensure multi-sectoral participation in the assessment of information needs as manifested by public perception and opinions; to ensure partnership of government, private and alternative media practitioners in communication efforts towards nation building; and to influence the formation of public opinion supportive of the development projects of the government.

The members of DSC Council will partner the government thru their participation as eyes, ears and tongue of the government in the community in line with the sector they represent towards nation building. They shall play the role of information officers in the conduct of communication programs and information dissemination. Representing the sectors seems more feasible as involvement within is greater.

The objectives and initial activities were discussed fully by DILG Provincial Director; Baldovino Valdez while Media Production and Dissemination was presented by PIA Partner Juanaria C. Narag.

Part of the organizational meeting was the election of officers and sectoral chairman as follows:

DSC Council Officers / Sector Represented
Chairman - Demetrius Paul C. Narag - Media Sector
Vice-Chairman - Juliet P. Cataluña - Local Media
Secretary - Anastacia B. Viola - Local Government
Treasurer - Carina B. Escalona - Education
Auditor - Sergio A. Abela - Leagues of Local Governance
Bus. Manager - Quirino Gabotero Jr. - Business/Labor

Sectoral Chairman:
Ana Marie Aumentado - Local Media Sector
Oscar Vargas - Business/Labor
Juanaria C. Narag - Women's Sector
Flinton Rock Abad - Youth
Romulo C. Cielo - League for Local Government
Pilar C. Mata - Education Roscoe B. Santana
Magdalena C. Villalva - Religious
- Local Government

All members pledge full support for DSCC. Meantime, PIA and DILG await for further advice, instructions and guidelines issued, should there be revision, inclusion or enrichment from PIA Central Office under the Arroyo administration.