PCOO calls on collective involvement against COVID-19 in “Leading Forward TownHall Meetings”
QUEZON CITY, June 28 (PIA) — Aimed at continuously engaging the citizens, and ensuring that the people receive vetted and accurate information, especially during this time of the pandemic, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has organized its 8th Leading Forward Townhall Meeting Friday, June 26, 2020.
Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping III in opening the virtual meeting said that the activity is being held is to connect sectors such OFWs leaders, youth, local government units to the national government and engage them to be active partners and to be ‘thought leaders’.
“The aim of this townhall meeting is to continue to engage with you all the time. Through this engagement, it is our hope in the PCOO that we will all be thought leaders through this townhall meeting; that as thought leaders, we should be able to explain the programs and the policies of this government to be able to help more people,” Asec Cualoping said.
Cualoping added that PCOO have curated resources for Filipinos to be empowered by way of correct, vetted and credible information.
PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar underscored the relevance of the townhall meeting as “a means to gather our powers” to collectively work together to be able to help in the fight against COVID-19 by sharing accurate information to the public.
“The powers to strive more, to listen more, to act together, to communicate and educate our public with accuracy, and transparency. These are the powers we need in order to achieve our goals. To challenge our young leaders and information officers, to promote justice, and to take part in social issues with equal opportunities,” Secretary Andanar said.
Sec. Andanar continued that, “in brief, these are powers we need in order to achieve our goals. We can ask ourselves, do we need to muster these powers individually? Have we utilized these powers the past seven townhall meetings? You have the answers to these questions. But if you do not, then do not try to look for them. The answers will reveal themselves one at a time. Without you seeking them. And by that time, you will be able to live with them well.”
The Secretary added that that each individual present is a hero saying that “when we meet in a townhall like today, we affirm the individual and collective strength of one another. Even if we maybe residents of another place . the unifying factors lies in our objective and the defining relevance of township. We are compelled to be bound by a cause greater than ourselves. And that simply is definition of a hero. One who offers oneself to a cause, greater than the self.”
Guests during the townhall meeting were Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho of the Department of Health (DOH), Undersecretary Marjorie Jalosjos of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Atty. Justin Batocabe of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Assistant Secretary Kris Ablan, of the PCOO. Mr. Karl Louie Fajardo moderated the event (PIA-IDPD/VQR).
source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1046030