𝑷𝑰𝑨 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝑶𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚-𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝑱𝑯𝑪𝑺𝑪 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝑬𝒙𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑪𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒔

The Philippine Information Agency Region IX (PIA-IX), headed by the Regional Director Ms. Noemi B. Edaga, conducted an Orientation and Capacity-Building session for iVolts on October 30, 2024, at the Conference Room on the 3rd Floor of the IT Building, Pagadian City Extension Campus. This initiative aimed to enhance the skills of youth and student volunteers in effectively disseminating information and fostering a more informed community regarding government programs and services. A total of 26 participants, including 18 students and eight network coordinators/advisers from nine different schools, participated in the orientation.

The schools that participated were Lucan Central Colleges (LCC), Western Mindanao State University (WMSU), Pagadian Capitol College (PCC), J.H. Cerilles State College (JHCSC), Saint Columban College (SCC), Yllana Bay View College (YBVC), Zamboanga Del Sur Provincial Government College (ZDSPGC), Pagadian City International College (PCIC), and Our Lady of Triumph (OLT). Edlyn Mae Macaso, PIA Secretariat, facilitated the session, which featured keynote lecturers, including Mr. Harvy T. Bangayan, Information Officer, who discussed the roles and responsibilities of iVolunteers and the fight against fake news, and Clennkei C. Peñalosa, Government Information Center Coordinator, who tackled the basics of news writing and photo captioning.

Dr. Rody P. Garcia, Regional Director of CHED IX, expressed his gratitude to the PIA for their initiative, emphasizing the importance of engaging youth in government information dissemination. He also recognized the iVolunteers for their vital role in bridging the gap between government news and community awareness. Additionally, Dr. Patricia D. Bahian, Campus Director of the Pagadian City Extension Campus, conveyed a message of support from President Dr. Edgardo H. Rosales, highlighting the empowerment of youth volunteers as catalysts for responsible information sharing.

iVolunteer is an innovative school-based network designed to connect universities and colleges. It aims to improve how government information is shared and promote advocacy efforts. By mobilizing students as volunteers, this initiative empowers them to act as citizen-reporters. This role is crucial in ensuring information about development programs and services effectively reaches their peers on campus, ultimately fostering a more informed and engaged student body.

This orientation marks a significant step towards fostering informed communities and enhancing the skills of campus journalists. The PIA actively promotes the proper dissemination of factual information by equipping youth with the necessary tools and knowledge. It ensures that students can effectively communicate vital updates, job opportunities, and public announcements within their communities.