CITY OF KORONADAL — To further capacitate key members of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) Emergency Operation Center (EOC) on Communication Response due to the on-going Corona Virus Disease (CoViD)-19 pandemic, a Seminar/Lecture on Crisis Communication was conducted today (April 20) at the IPHO Conference Room here.
Danilo Doguiles, Information Officer IV of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 12 conducted the lecture to IPHO-EOC members headed by Provincial Health Officer II Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr.
Doguiles emphasized the vital role of the management (IPHO) in dealing with the CoViD-19 pandemic and their relationship with the local tri-media as partner.
“The media, though adversarial in nature, can help create understanding and engage with the community and lead mass action,” Doguiles said.
The management, Doguiles pointed out, should provide “first, right and credible” information to gain control of the situation and trust of the public before speculation and rumor dilute authority. The management should likewise manage public perception, regulate public panic, confusion, rioting, among others and prevent or reduce risk.
“In any crisis or disaster situation, public communication is important, thus, collaboration between the crisis management team and the media is essential,” Doguiles stressed.
Doguiles also reiterated that the Crisis Manager should also know about media function and understand that media have internal set of rules, work schedules, systems and deadlines, products to manufacture and sell and competitors to contend with.
He further advised IPHO to establish relationships with local media agencies before a disaster, provide all media outlets with the same information at the same time and identify and establish a primary contact point as source of all information such as spokesperson or data center.
