PIA execs undergo training on service continuity

By Keren Anne Bernadas

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay --- The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) will conduct a training session on public service continuity planning and crisis risk communication from August 4 to 8 in this regional capital of Bicol.

At the end of the Disaster Risk Reduction Summit and Public Service Continuity Planning (PSCP) Conference, the PIA is expected to develop a playbook or toolkit to guide the agency’s operations in 2025 and beyond.

Regional heads and key division chiefs will participate in the public service continuity planning workshop.

This training is designed to equip PIA personnel with the essential tools, skills, and frameworks needed to ensure the continuity of public service, particularly communication functions, during disasters and other crises that disrupt the country.

Training sessions will cover key topics intended to enhance the agency’s preparedness and response during crises. These topics include an introduction to public service continuity planning, providing participants with a foundational understanding of the subject.

Additionally, the training will address risk assessment for continuity of operations, guiding personnel in identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities.

Another major topic will be determining and prioritizing essential functions to ensure that critical services are maintained during emergencies.

Emver Cortes, the PIA head for the National Capital Region, explained that the PIA leads the Crisis Communications Cluster of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in preparedness and response efforts, ensuring the flow of information during crises.

“This initiative confirms our commitment to delivering crucial information when it is needed most and ensures that the real on-ground situation is communicated effectively to relevant policymakers and response teams,” he said.

“Through these efforts, the PIA aims to establish and institutionalize long-term mechanisms and platforms for the free exchange of information,” Cortes said. “We will continue to work with various media and civic organizations to bridge the gap between the government and the public, promoting transparency, accountability, and trust.”

Cortes said the training sessions “reflect our shared vision with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and PIA Director-General Katherine Chloe De Castro for a safe and disaster-resilient Bagong Pilipinas.”

PIA’s information officers from 16 regional offices, on the other hand, will attend a workshop on risk and crisis communications to enhance strategies during disasters.

The workshop emphasizes PIA’s crucial role in disseminating information to save lives and minimize damage in emergencies. It aims to equip information officers, who act as focal points for disaster communication, with the skills needed to communicate effectively and creatively in crisis situations.

Topics covered in the training will include foundational concepts and frameworks of risk communication. Participants will also engage in simulation exercises focusing on media relations and preparations for press briefings.

Ramil Marianito, the PIA head for the Bicol region, expressed pride in being selected to host these important activities.

Said he, “We warmly welcome all participants from across the country to Legazpi City, Albay—home to resilient communities and exemplary disaster risk reduction and management practices. Through this activity, let us strengthen our collective efforts to build safer, more prepared, and service-ready communities.”

Subject matter experts from the Office of Civil Defense and the Bureau of Fire Protection, among others, will lead these events. (PIA)