By: Von Henzley Consigna, Owen John de Leon, Dhan Michael dela Peña, and Nhil Xavier Piñera
A training workshop on public engagement for the local government unit (LGU) officials and employees was conducted by the Los Baños Times today at the Graduate Room, College of Development Communication (CDC), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
Los Baños Times conducts a training workshop on public engagement for local government units (LGU) on March 5, 2018 at the UP Los Baños College of Development Communication (CDC). Photo by: Von Consigna
Eight representatives from different LGU offices attended the training workshop; they are as follows: Joan Catherine Magdaong and Martin Imatong of the Local Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Program (LCCAMP); Brian Salazar and John Escobel of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO); Christian Deomampo of the Municipal Tourism Office (MTO); Janis Ian Delfino of the Los Baños Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (LB CHATO); Randolph Franz Tolentino of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO); and Joshua Ryan Cayabyab of the Public Information Office (PIO).
The training workshop was done under the management of the Department of Development Journalism, facilitated by development communication professors Dr. Pamela Custodio, aProf. Jyasmin-Calub Bautista, and aProf. Ricarda Villar. It was divided into two parts; first, a discussion on organizations, local government, and public engagement, and second, media skills. Workshops on assessment on the LGU’s level of mass media and social media engagement, and on writing media release were also administered.
According to aProf. Calub-Bautista, the training workshop aims for an effective partnership between the members of the LGU and LB Times. She added that the training workshop was based on the previous meetings with the LGU, specifically on their use of social media.
LB CHATO Tourism Staff and Website Content Manager Delfino stated that as a development communication graduate, the training workshop served as a refresher course. She added that the training workshop discussed how to bridge the gap between media and the government.
The participants were given assignments to be returned for evaluation. Training workshops by LB Times are done annually.