Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Wednesday urged the agency’s information officers (IOs) and other communication personnel to be precise and prompt in providing information to their client-beneficiaries.

“Tamang tulong sa tamang impormasyon. ‘Yan yung lagi kong sinasabi (The right assistance for the right information. That is what I always say). We have to remember that the poor, the marginalized, and the vulnerable, they have no one else to turn to, except us,” Gatchalian told the DSWD communication team during the opening of the National IOs Conference in Quezon City.

“Importante na makuha nila ang tamang impormasyon sa pinaka mabilis na panahon, sa pinakamadaling pamamaraan, at higit sa lahat, sa pinakamadaling format na intindihin (It is important that they [beneficiaries] get the right information at the quickest time, the easiest way, and most of all, the easiest format to understand).”

In a video message, Gatchalian said one of the battles that the agency is facing is preserving the integrity of information for its clients and beneficiaries.

The spread of fake news, disinformation, and other fraudulent activities that use the name of the department is becoming rampant across various digital platforms, he added.

“Continue to fortify our cybersecurity measures and keep up with the communication trends in order to reach our intended audience at the right time and in the appropriate format,” Gatchalian said.

He said to prevent any problem, IOs must be vigilant in their communication efforts.

Gatchalian said it is vital to use technology and other resources to provide accurate information to a larger audience.

“Mas malaki ngayon ang ating responsibilidad to make sure na tamang impormasyon lagi ang natatanggap ng ating mga kliyente, every minute and every second. Mukhang mahirap gawin pero (We have a bigger responsibility now to make sure that our clients are receiving the right information every minute and every second. It may seem difficult but) with the proper utilization of technology, we can actually do that,” he said.

Gatchalian pointed out that accurate information must be coupled with clear and easy-to-comprehend instructions or storytelling.

He also recognized the crucial role of the IOs in disseminating information to the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors.

“With this, I am glad that the Strategic Communications Group conducted this conference to discuss and share communication-related tactics that are significant to enhancing our service delivery and in crafting a unified messaging that addresses the needs of the people,” Gatchalian said. (PNA)