TAGBILARAN CITY. - The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Central Visayas in collaboration with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) – Bohol conducted a one-day Climate Change Campaign for the Association of United Development Information Officers (AUDIO) on April 12, 2018, at the ATI Regional Training Center – VII, Cabawan District, this city.
The disturbing weather patterns caused by climate variability and change pushed ATI-7 to create a general consciousness on the flexibility of climate change adaptation and coping practices including reduction of disaster risk in the communities especially in the field of agriculture.
Meanwhile, AUDIO-Bohol is composed of different information officers (IO) coming from the local government units and national government agencies in the province. As IOs are responsible for sharing information directly to the public; briefed their officials on relevant information; manage media relations; and formulate communication strategies and campaigns to their agency, ATI-7 as a training institute believes that collaborating with these IOs, the advocacy and campaign on climate change will be widely reached.
In her message ATI-7 Regional Training Center Director, Dr. Carolyn May Daquio said: “climate change is not fake news, it is real”. She emphasized to AUDIO-Bohol members to be responsible for whatever information that they disseminate to the public. As the spokesperson of their respective agencies/LGUs, she told the IOs to make the most of the 4 channels of information --- TV, radio, print & social media to reach out to a wide area of their clients to help reduce & eliminate poverty.
Happening on that day was the discussion of ATI’s Climate Change program by the agency’s focal person, Ms. Joemelyn Sumagang. Part of the event also was the ‘bisita opisina’ or office tour at the training complex where it showcases the different services of the office. Information, Education & Communication and advocacy materials were likewise given to the participants.
The campaign was also in collaboration with PIA Bohol where they are responsible for the Visayan translation of the climate change advocacy material. Video of the forum was taken during the event and was aired during Kapihan sa PIA at DYTR.