Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, the agency’s spokesperson, was named ‘Outstanding Public Communicator’ in the first-ever Parangal: Gawad ng Kahusayan sa Komunikasyong Pampubliko by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

“Maraming-maraming salamat sa Presidential Communications Office sa parangal po na ito. Isa lamang po ang trabaho ko bilang communicator ng gobyerno, ito po ay ilapit ang serbisyo ng ating pamahalaan sa mga mamamayang Pilipino. Makakaasa po kayo na sa Bagong Pilipinas, magiging buo ang tiwala ng mamamayang Pilipino sa administrasyon na ito,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said in her acceptance speech during the awarding rites at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Monday (December 16).

Asst. Secretary Dumlao has consistently established her credibility as a government communicator when she was designated as spokesperson of the DSWD during the implementation phase of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) in 2020.

In her capacity as the spokesperson, Asst. Secretary Dumlao intertwines emotional intelligence with analytical reasoning to connect with the public, imparting a sense of inclusion within the governmental framework.

“To ensure na makapag-contribute tayo in making the Filipino people feel that the services of the government are readily accessible, sa pamamagitan po niyan nabubuo ang tiwala nila sa ating pamahalaan, iyon po yung ating guiding principle na dapat talaga i-explain po natin sa ating mga kababayan kung ano po talaga ang ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan in the simplest form possible para mas maunawaan nila, maintindihan nila at ma-recognize that the government is really present and that the government truly cares,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao told reporters on the sidelines of the PCO’s Parangal.

As part of the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), Asst. Secretary Dumlao always ensures that her messages are grounded in empirical data and established guidelines to effectively augment her credibility to the public in order to combat public disinformation and misinformation.

When asked about the challenges of being a public communicator, the DSWD spokesperson emphasized the significance of adaptability as a crucial attribute to facilitate effective public engagement.

“Marami pong challenges in communicating the various programs and services of the national government but these challenges are also opportunities to learn, opportunities to improve on how we deliver our services kung kaya nga po hindi natin binibigyan ng diin o emphasis ang mga challenges, but we are always looking at the opportunities on how to become better government communicators,” Asst. Dumlao pointed out.

The other nominees for the Outstanding Public Communicator Award were Department of Health (DOH) Asst. Secretary Albert Domingo; Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno; Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella; Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Goddess Hope Libiran; National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela; Philippine National Police (PNP) P/BGen. Jean Fajardo; Department of Justice (DOJ) Asst. Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV; Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Ambassador Ma. Teresita Daza; and, Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) Asst. Secretary Renato Paraiso.

In the same awarding ceremony, the DSWD’s Mga Kwento ng Pag-Asa at Pagbabago (#KPAP) online documentary bagged the Public Service Campaign – National Level Award. The online weekly documentary features stories of hope and change from beneficiaries of the DSWD’s development programs, including the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps.

The DSWD 4Ps received five nominations during the Parangal. These were the Public Service Campaign for the Tanong mo, Sagot ko initiative; Government Innovation Award for the 4Ps e-panalo ang kinabukasan; Outstanding Digital Campaign for the 4Ps TV; Outstanding Digital Campaign Best Infographic for the 4Ps Voters Education; and, Outstanding Digital Campaign Best Long Form for the 4Ps TV. (AKDL)

Tagalog Version

DSWD spox kinilala bilang Outstanding Public Communicator

Kinilala bilang Outstanding Public Communicator’ si Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao sa ginanap na kauna-unahang Parangal: Gawad ng Kahusayan sa Komunikasyong Pampubliko ng Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

Sa kanyang acceptance speech sa ginanap na awarding ceremony sa Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) sa Pasay City nitong Lunes (December 16), nagpahayag ng pasasalamat si Asst Secretary Dumlao sa PCO.

“Maraming-maraming salamat sa Presidential Communications Office sa parangal po na ito. Isa lamang po ang trabaho ko bilang communicator ng gobyerno, ito po ay ilapit ang serbisyo ng ating pamahalaan sa mga mamamayang Pilipino. Makakaasa po kayo na sa Bagong Pilipinas, magiging buo ang tiwala ng mamamayang Pilipino sa administrasyon na ito,” sabi ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao.

Si Asst Secretary Dumlao ay nakilala sa kanyang husay bilang government communicator ng siya ay ma-designate bilang spokesperson ng DSWD sa implementation phase ng Social Amelioration Program (SAP) noong 2020.

“To ensure na makapag-contribute tayo in making the Filipino people feel that the services of the government are readily accessible, sa pamamagitan po niyan nabubuo ang tiwala nila sa ating pamahaalan, iyon po yung ating guiding principle na dapat talaga i-explain po natin sa ating mga kababayan kung ano po talaga ang ginawaga ng ating pamahalaan in the simplest form possible para mas maunawaan nila, maintindihan nila at ma-recognize that the government is really present and that the government truly cares,” sabi ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao sa panayam ng mamamahayag matapos ang PCO Parangal event.

Bilang isa din sa mga opisyal ng Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), palagiang tinitiyak ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao na ang bawat detalye ng mga mensaheng ibinibigay niya ay wasto upang mapanatili nito ang tiwala ng bawat mamamayan at maiwasan ang public disinformation at misinformation.
“Marami pong challenges in communicating the various programs and services of the national government but these challenges are also opportunities to learn, opportunities to improve on how we deliver our services kung kaya nga po hindi natin binibigyan ng diin o emphasis ang mga challenges, but we are always looking at the opportunities on how to become better government communicators,” sabi pa ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao.

Samantala, kabilang sa mga nominees for the Outstanding Public Communicator Award ay sina Department of Health (DOH) Asst. Secretary Albert Domingo; Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno; Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella; Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Goddess Hope Libiran; National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela; Philippine National Police (PNP) P/BGen. Jean Fajardo; Department of Justice (DOJ) Asst. Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV; Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Ambassador Ma. Teresita Daza; at Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) Asst. Secretary Renato Paraiso.# (MVC)