To engage the local government units (LGU) in mainstreaming the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) information, education and communication (IEC) and advocacy plans, and in promoting the integration of the Project’s tools, innovations, and Knowledge Management (KM) strategies, DA-PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) Bicol convened the designated LGU Information, Advocacy, Communication and Education (InfoACE) Focal Persons in a meeting on June 23, 2022 at the DA Regional Field Office Compound in Pili, Camarines Sur. 

The DA-PRDP RPCO Bicol InfoACE Unit conducted the activity to strengthen its collaboration with its Provincial and Municipal Project Management Implementation Units (P/MPMIU) counterparts. According to DA Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS) Chief and DA-PRDP RPCO Bicol InfoACE Unit Head Emilia Bordado, the activity also aims to reorient the designed P/MPMIU InfoACE Focal Persons about their respective roles and functions as well as seek their commitment to complement the InfoACE manpower at the RPCO level in its information, communication and advocacy efforts. 

Bordado underscored that their role as PRDP’s rural development ambassadors is essential, especially as the Project seeks to build its legacy of corruption-proof, transparent and good governance with the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling this year. 

The activity was attended by 16 designated P/MPMIU InfoACE Focal Persons from the provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Catanduanes and Sorsogon and from LGUs with ongoing PRDP infrastructure development (I-BUILD) and enterprise development (I-REAP) subprojects regionwide. The participants were oriented about the PRDP InfoACE Unit’s Conceptual Framework, Structure, and Strategic Direction, as well as their roles and functions as Provincial/Municipal InfoACE Focal Persons. They also identified points of complementation with the PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit’s Communication Plan for 2022. 

The InfoACE Unit, under the PRDP’s Project Implementation Support (I-SUPPORT) component, takes charge of the dissemination of information and policy advocacies and the direction of the project. It also serves as the image builder of the Project by performing promotional and advocacy activities that engage the active participation of project stakeholders. (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V/PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

DA RAFIS Chief and PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit Head Emilia Bordado orients the P/MPMIU InfoACE Focal Persons about the PRDP InfoACE Unit’s Conceptual Framework, Structure, and Strategic Direction. She also highlights their role as PRDP’s rural development ambassadors.

DA PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit Writer Annielyn L. Baleza discusses the Roles and Functions of the Provincial/Municipal InfoACE Focal Persons.