PIA to roll out media, 

info literacy campaign 

TAGBILARAN CITY, June 25 (PIA)--The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) is set to roll out an advocacy campaign pushing for media and information literacy (MIL). 

During the launching of the Provincial Communications Officers Network (PCO Net) here on June 22, PIA Director-General Harold Clavite said that the MIL will be rolled out by the second semester of this year. 

The campaign aims to educate the public on how to counter wrong information and promote cyber wellness. 

Clavite said that this campaign is an offshoot of the ASEAN commitment to address misinformation, disinformation, and cyber wellness. 

He added that the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) had allocated funds for this project and the Philippines through PIA and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore are finalizing the campaign plan that will be rolled out in all ten ASEAN member states this year. 

“This is part of our commitment, together with the Government of Singapore, to take the lead in MIL for the ASEAN information sector,' disclosed Clavite adding that the information drive will start in school campuses in the Philippines. 

The PIA official said that our country is too focused on politicking and that we need to value the role each person plays in addressing the proliferation of wrong information and fake news. 

Clavite, together with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar led the launching of the PCO Net and ‘Dismiss Disinformation Campaign’ on Friday at Bohol Tropics Resort, this city. 

The launching was attended by 100 participants composed of public information officers from local government units (LGUs) and regional line agencies, academe, youth and local media. 

Andanar asked the participants to help counter fake news and spread the good news so people will be informed as the good news from the government are drowned by bad news and fake news especially through social media. 

He said the PIA will take the lead in educating the public about the dangers of fake news. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol) 

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director-General Harold Clavite discusses the advocacy campaign pushing for media and information literacy (MIL) to be rolled out by PIA this year. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)