The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), the country’s premier association of PR and communications professionals, PRSP is expanding its network to the Visayas and Mindanao with the creation of regional chapters.

As the pandemic puts industries and businesses under immense pressure to adapt to the new normal and recoup losses, PRSP underscores the crucial role of communication and hopes to help synergize the efforts of communications professionals across the country. The newly instated chapters will provide more avenues for collaboration and learning through shared knowledge, technology, training and best PR practices.

Jones T. Campos, APR, former PRSP president and proponent of the chapter creation, said: “Aside from strengthening relationships among PR practitioners nationwide, having PRSP chapters in Cebu, Davao and other key cities in the Philippines will open more opportunities and integrate a common aspiration to professionalize the industry. Likewise, it will enable a nationwide way of combatting fake news, disinformation and misinformation while inculcating competence and ethical practice among PR and communications professionals.”

The new chapters will be created initially through a partnership with VisMin PR agencies PR Works, Selrahco and Bigseed. Jaja Chiongbian-Rama, founder and managing Director of Bigseed, gladly accepts the idea of having a PRSP chapter in Cebu: “We welcome this opportunity to connect and collaborate with other agencies and practitioners from around the country. With public relations evolving as the world around us changes, an organization such as the PRSP opens opportunities to set industry standards and provides an avenue for us to support and learn from one another.”

The same sentiment is echoed by Doris Mongaya of PR Works, who stated that the creation of regional chapters will result in greater cooperation between VisMin-based PR professionals and their Metro Manila counterparts, which could in turn lead to the faster development of the whole Philippine PR industry. “We recognize the efforts of PRSP in congregating PR professionals and agencies in a national scale. Through this, we have more avenues for collaboration, which is especially apt in these times. We’re looking forward to what’s to come,” Charles Lim of Selrahco adds.

PRSP President Norman Agatep, APR shares, “We appreciate how receptive our fellow PR practitioners in VisMin have been when we brought up our intention to create regional chapters of PRSP. These challenging times further highlight the importance of good communication both for brands and their audiences. With this new development, we reaffirm PRSP’s commitment to uphold ethics and elevate the PR practice nationwide.”

PRSP’s First 3-day Digital PR Congress

The biggest and most-awaited annual event of PRSP is the National Public Relations Congress. Now on its 27th year, the upcoming PR Congress is marking several firsts — the first to go full-digital and the first to run for three days. These changes, particularly the shift to digital, reflect how the PR industry is adapting to the new normal and embracing new technologies to continue telling the story of brands and organizations.

The Congress, which will be held on February 17 to 19, 2021, will be headlined by topics such as the post-pandemic Philippine PR landscape, industry recovery efforts and pressing issues such as mental health in the workplace. With the theme “Transcend”, the 27th PR Congress hopes to inspire PR and communication practitioners across the country to go beyond conventional thinking and step out of their comfort zone to address pressing issues and collectively move forward to create a better normal for all.

Ana Pista, Congress chairperson, shared: “As the PR Congress has done since it started, we are bringing together a powerhouse roster of local and international speakers and delivering a lineup of timely and relevant topics this year. This year, more than ever, the Congress will highlight the role of PR in building a society that works for all.”

PRSP expects to welcome more than 1,000 PR and communications practitioners to this year’s Congress. For more information about PRSP and the upcoming 27th National Public Relations Congress, please visit the event’s website or official Facebook page