DOST’S Solidum: Community media key partners in sci comm
THE community media have an important role in disseminating science news and information, Science Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said.
Solidum made the statement at the “2023 Community Multimedia Summit” at the Aklan State University-banga Campus on January 11.
The three-day event gathered broadcasters, publishers, editors, columnists, online broadcasters, writers and professional communicators from various media organizations nationwide to discuss issues, such as food security, climate change, tourism, social media education and other concerns affecting the national interest.
Solidum highlighted the DOST’S efforts and initiatives that are anchored on four thematic areas: wealth creation, through economic development and job creation; wealth protection, through climate and disaster resilience; human well-being, through health, education, access to water and energy; and sustainability, by ensuring protection and conservation of natural resources, said Enrico Belga Jr. in the news release from the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
“We at the [DOST] have witnessed how communicators helped us become relevant in the public eye especially during the height of Covid-19 pandemic, where most of the news are about vaccines, clinical trials, virgin coconut oil, and testing kits, to name a few. We owe the media the public’s increased awareness about DOST, which then helped us leverage our projects with our lawmakers and stakeholders,” Solidum said.
“Making sense of science and technology [S&t]-related news can be a daunting task, and delivering it to the public in layman manner requires keen sense of inquisitiveness and curiosity that only truly dedicated communicators can do,” he added.
Solidum noted that engagement with members of the media has always been part of DOST’S strategy to inform the public about the agency’s efforts in terms of service delivery and improvement of public awareness about the Philippines’ S&T ecosystem in general.
In his presentation, Solidum further discussed DOST’S flagship programs and offerings in the fields of research and development; industry, energy and emerging technologies; food security and improved agricultural processes; technology intervention for micro-small and medium enterprises, communities, academic organizations, government agencies, research institutions, and local industries; information, communication and technology tools, and technologies for monitoring the weather and geological events; and scholarship opportunities for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics students at the secondary, undergraduate, and graduate levels.
The event was organized by the Provincial Multi-media Press Corps PH Inc., Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc., Philippine Online Broadcasters Association, and the Aklan Press Club Inc.
It was considered to be the biggest convergence of the press and social media groups after the two-year height Covid-19 pandemic.
Present during the event were Kalibo Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc; Communications Undersecretary Edwin Cordevilla and Assistant Secretary Bobby Ricohermoso; Juan Dayang, chairman of the Provincial Multimedia Press Corps PH Inc.; Roy Bato, chapter chairman of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Calabarzon; Lydia Bueno, president of the National Press Club of the Philippines; Nelson Santos, president of Publishers Association of the Philippines; and Rowen R. Gelonga, Regional Director of DOST-VI.