W. Visayas agri info officers learn new trends in social media management

Agricultural information officers from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas, along with its attached bureaus, agencies, and provincial agricultural offices, learned new strategies to effectively communicate programs and advocacies from the workshop on Enhancing Social Media Presence of Government Agencies: Creating, Packaging, and Boosting Content for Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, conducted on October 29 – 31 in Anini-y, Antique.

DA Western Visayas Regional Information Officer James Earl Ogatis said that the periodic meetings and seminars for agricultural information officers seek to strengthen the government’s capacity to communicate advancements in the sector. He emphasized that the training aims to equip information officers with skills to create engaging content and translate highly technical agriculture and fisheries information into simplified and engaging materials for farmers and other stakeholders.

Public Relations and Communications Specialist Kenneth Lerona, the workshop resource speaker, urged participants to go beyond viewing digital media as an alternative to traditional methods. He advocated for a blended approach that integrates both, and he encouraged using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance content creation and to assess social media insights.

This shift, he explained, enables the government to effectively disseminate information, build public trust, and engage with constituents across multiple platforms.

“We don’t have to be boring,” Lerona emphasized, noting that digital tools allow for highly tailored content, ensuring that messages on agriculture and fishery fit with diverse audience groups.

Lerona also introduced participants to the AIDA (Awareness, Interest, Desire, and Action) approach in storytelling and key elements such as relatability, novelty, tension, and fluency.

Participants, who are info officers of DA, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Irrigation Administration – JRMP Stage II, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, National Food Authority, and provincial farmcasters crafted their social media content plan and sample materials that highlight the appeal of the agriculture sector. ###Texts by SMHToreno & Photos by VNOQuimpo & KDCCaldina/DA-RAFIS 6