During the 1st Regional Technical Working Group Meeting of Barangay Information Officers Network held at Zamboanga City, Thursday, January 28, 2021, the Philippine Information Agency stressed the need to organize Barangay Information Officers Network in all other areas in Zamboanga Peninsula and other parts of Basilan Province. The call was raised after BIONs were found to exhibit key roles in the community in cascading relevant, accurate and untarnished information most especially now that the national government prepares for the rolling-out of the country’s COVID-19 Vaccination program.

Shared during the discussion were status and review of the establishment of BIONs, their role in the dissemination of unbiased information and as governments main communication channels.

Isabela City Information Office meanwhile shared its BION journey, as it trailblazers to be the first in the region to organize BION. BION plans and targets were also laid for 2021 as well as mechanisms and strategies to be implemented for an effective and efficient two-way messaging.

Issues and concerns as regards organization of BIONS were also raised.

Introduced as well during the meeting was the Department of Interior and Local Government’s proposed BION Functionality and Sustainability Monitoring Tool, a tool to which advances as a measure in the monitoring and assessment of BION implementation in LGUs to be able to identify and correct gaps. The tool was introduced by Alvin Lucero, LGOO V of DILG Region IX.

Health Program Officer of Department of Health Region IX Julius Matthew Lozana on the other hand presented DOH-COVID-19 Vaccine Program must knows. A lecture on the campaign to End Local Communist Armed Conflict were also shared by NICA Regional Director Ariel Perlado.

Gathered during this meeting were Provincial, City and Municipal Information Officers of Zamboanga City, Isabela city, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, BION Info focals, partner government agencies NICA, Office of the Civil Defense, DILG and DOH.

The activity was hosted by the Philippine Information Agency Region IX.