Earlier, 30 media practitioners and outlets were awarded as the 2019 Most Supportive Media Partners for helping the department. Each awardee received a plaque of recognition.

Among the government agency awardees were Philippine Information Agency 6, PIA-Iloilo Infocen, PIA-Capiz Infocen, PIA-Antique Infocen, and Philippine News Agency (PNA).

For radio stations, awardees were DYSI Super Radyo- Iloilo, Radyo Pilipinas, RMN-Iloilo, and Aksyon Radyo.

For print media, awardees were Iloilo Metropolitan Times (IMT), The Daily Guardian, Panay News, News Express, and The Capiz Times.

Most supportive TV stations that were recognized include GMA Regional TV– One Western Visayas, UNTV, Buenavista Cable – Antique, and IBC TV-12.

Five print media reporters also received an individual awards.

They were Elyrose Naorbe of IMT, Jun N. Aguirre of Business Mirror, Tara Katherine Yap of Manila Bulletin, Glenda Tayona of Panay News, and Jennifer Ponsaran-Rendon of The Daily Guardian.

Individual awardees for most supportive radio reporters were Elena Pabiona of Radyo Pilipinas, Joel Franco of RMN-Iloilo, and Jun Fagutao of Radyo Bandera Sweet FM in Antique.

Also recognized were Most supportive online reporters–Lilibeth French of Iloilo Infocen, Annabel Petinglay of PNA- Antique, bloggers Marie Katherine of Villalon of Iloilo Updates and Ted Aldwin Ong of People’s Domain.

In her opening message, Regional Information Officer May Rago-Castillo extended her gratefulness to all the media for the never-ending support to DSWD programs.

“More than the support, we thank you for the compassion for the people. For fighting for them, for advancing their cause, for urging actions for their betterment. With that, we only have admiration for all of you.

She added that, “DSWD will always be with you in the cause and, as always, we salute you for the courage, for leading, for fighting for the people’s welfare.”

For her part, Regional Program Coordinator Belen Gebusion expressed her appreciation to the strong partnership between the department and the media because through them, rightful information is always delivered to the general public with transparency.

TESTIMONIES

Radyo Pilipinas Reporter Elena Pabiona on her response message said her attachment with the department is quite profound because it’s beyond news writing or delivering the news about their programs and accomplishments.

“Being a government media and the President of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Press Corps (IPCPC), the sense of responsibility is geared towards service and making sure that the programs of the government agency will be reached and felt by the real beneficiaries,” she said.

The IPCPC has been a partner of the DSWD in implementing outreach activities in communities such as distribution of relief goods and feeding programs for the indigents, senior citizens and women for the past years.

Pabiona enumerated several of their projects tied-up with the DSWD like feeding program and distribution of hygiene kits at the Iloilo Provincial District Jail Female Dormitory in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, where the DSWD staff also conducted lectures on 4Ps, senior citizens pension, and other programs. Same activities were also conducted in Calinog, Concepcion, and Leganes.

“I have a deep attachment with DSWD because I have established good friendship with the officials and staff even if we do not see each other that much. They are approachable, kind, always have a helping hand and ready to answer interviews and inquiries,” she ended.

For his part, RMN Reporter Joel Franco, also a Vice President of Iloilo City Hall Press Corps, said media has been the long partner of the department in informing and educating the public especially this time of pandemic brought by COVID-19.

Franco said DSWD has been on top of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) implementation which many queries also reached their station which were also immediately addressed and resolved by the department.

“We assure DSWD that this pool of media will be your partner in delivering information to the public. All we want is just provide us the information necessary for our stories and we will help you inform the people,” he said./dswd6/MGC