MANILA – The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) will spearhead a Campus Caravan and competitions among college students in observance of Communications Month 2023.
In a statement on Friday, PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the campus caravan will feature exhibition booths, media information literacy workshops, creative contests and competitions, panel discussions, Konsyerto sa Palasyo (Concert at the Palace) campus auditions and internship information booth.
The schedules and venues will be released soon.
Garafil said students from state universities and colleges (SUCs) and even private colleges nationwide would participate in the caravan and in other activities related to Communications Month.
“College students are invited to take part in short film making contests, songwriting contests, essay writing, mural painting, spoken word poetry contests, among others,” she said.
“For guidelines and more details on how to join, interested students may refer to the PCO Facebook page and website (pco.gov.ph),” Garafil added.
By virtue of Proclamation 308 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Aug. 2, October of every year is declared Communications Month while Oct. 11 is the PCO anniversary.
In celebrating Communications Month, Garafil said the PCO will undertake Campus Caravan in SUCs nationwide for the rollout of the Media and Information Literacy (MIL) campaign.
“It is aimed at being a key solution to countering misinformation and disinformation by educating the people in evaluating information sources to make them more discerning in consuming news and information and to be better equipped in identifying and avoiding false or misleading content,” she said.
The program is in partnership with other government agencies, such as the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Under Proclamation 308, all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and SUCs, will support the PCO in activities related to the Communications Month.
Local government units, non-government organizations and the private sector are enjoined to support PCO’s activities and programs.
This year’s celebration will carry the theme, “CommUNITY: Nagkakaisang Tinig Tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas,” magnifying and showcasing unity among government institutions by illustrating a whole-of-government approach in combating misinformation and disinformation while fostering a sense of unity among students and the youth.
The PCO, by virtue of Executive Order No. 11 (s. 2023), is responsible for the crafting, formulation, development, enhancement, and coordination of the messaging system of the Executive Branch and the Office of the President. (PNA)
