DSWD-6 Strengthens Partnership with Local Media for Effective Information Dissemination

ILOILO City – I am Ime S. Sorial, a reporter of Panay News, the No. 1 Regional Daily Newspaper in Western Visayas. My collaboration with DSWD-6 began even before the COVID-19 pandemic, as the Department is part of my assigned news beat. Since then, I have been consistently covering and writing stories about its various programs, projects, and initiatives, which are published both in our print and online platforms. These stories have proven to be valuable sources of information for the public.

By reporting especially on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, I believe more people have become interested and better informed about the program, how it works, who it helps, and its significant role in improving the lives of Filipinos, particularly the beneficiaries. Our timely and credible news updates help ensure the public remains aware of DSWD’s efforts, particularly through the 4Ps which provide conditional cash grants to the poorest households to support better health, nutrition, and education for their children.

In my observation, the 4Ps has already achieved many of its goals in alleviating poverty. This is evident in the number of households that have graduated from the program after reaching Level III or self-sufficient level of well-being. However, there is still room for improvement particularly in identifying and listing qualified beneficiaries.

Some of the poorest households, especially those in far-flung or geographically isolated areas (GIDA), remain unlisted. Moreover, some households may have been exited or delisted, even if they are not yet financially ready. I believe monitoring and ensuring compliance among beneficiaries should be strengthened to sustain the program’s positive impact.

Every year, Panay News is recognized as one of the most supportive media partners in print. This year, I also had the honor of receiving a special recognition as Best Supportive Media Reporter for Print. Such acknowledgments help foster stronger partnerships between the media and the DSWD.

Through my continued reporting and our platform’s wide reach, we help disseminate accurate and timely information about the 4Ps and other pro-poor programs of the Department. This includes informing the public about application requirements for newer initiatives such as F1KD, AKAP, and the Walang Gutom Program. One key advantage is being able to write in our local dialect, Hiligaynon, which ensures that the information is better understood by the public./mgc

#BawatBuhayMahalagaSaDSWD