The officers and members of the Cagayan de Oro Energy Press Corps were formally inducted into office last 17 December 2014 at a local hotel dubbed “Media Appreciation Day.”
Atty. Vermin Quimco, head for Mindanao of NGCP’s Legal Dept., and a member of media swears in the elected officers of the CDO Energy Press Corps held Dec. 17 at a local hotel during the NGCP “Media Appreciation Day”. (photo by Mike Baños, NPN)
Inducted officers were Thelma Oliver, regional director of the Philippine Information Agency Region X (PIA-10) as president; Gil Emmanuel “Butch” Enerio, correspondent, Business Mirror as vice president; Christine Cabiasa, lifestyle editor, Mindanao Daily News, secretary; Shaun Alejandrae Y. Uy, editor, Cagayan de Oro Times, treasurer; Romeo Capinpuyan, broadcast producer-announcer II, dxIM Radyo ng Bayan, auditor; Rene Michael Baños, freelance journalist, PRO and Ercel Maandig, correspondent, Philippine News Agency (PNA), business manager. The CDO Energy Press Corps is an initiative of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and was organized last November 24, 2014 along with the election of officers.
PIA-X RD Thelma Oliver supervises the Nov. 24 election of officers for the new CDO Energy Press Corps held at Seda Centrio. (photo by Mike Baños, NPN)
“At the end of the day, accurate information and important energy-related news will still need the proper vehicle and channel to reach its audience. And I personally believe that a seamless, healthy, and professional relationship between the source of information and the heralds make for a strong formula in arming the general public with knowledge,” said Nelson S. Bautista, Head-Regional Communications Division. “In NGCP, we acknowledge the invaluable contributions of our friends from the media in information dissemination. The broadsheets, tabloids, websites, and television and radio stations are the most effective ways for us to inform and educate the public,” he added. Among the activities lined up by the new organization for next year are trainings in Power 101 and site visits of NGCP facilities in Mindanao. It also expects to play a major role in providing the proper forums
CDO Energy Press Corps members take their membership oath
“As presented to us earlier on the rationale and objectives of this press corps, the challenge is great. Realizing that we will be dealing with behavior change of different communities, our campaign therefore in support to NGCP should be strategic,” Ms. Oliver noted in her acceptance speech. “As a communicator, I highly appreciate if we will be provided with baseline study about the knowledge, attitude and practices of these communities. So that our communication interventions will be strategic by maximizing the use of different media platforms.” During the Nov. 24 organizational meeting, NGCP officials led by Bautista expounded on the critical role played by media in disseminating important information to the public which affects them as consumers, like the deliberate planting of trees in areas identified as Right-of-Way (ROW) for power transmission lines, thereby putting at risk the welfare of consumers all over Mindanao. “We call this a ‘partnership’ because both the NGCP and the media are sure to benefit and learn from each other. NGCP will listen to the press corps’ recommendations and suggestions in designing more effective information dissemination programs. With the proper guidance from our media partners, we can ensure to proactively seek resolutions before making public announcements of emerging issues,” Bautista said.
Nelson S. Bautista, NGCP Head-Regional Communications delivers his keynote speech
“The members of this press corps will be entitled to easy access to information. You will also be given the opportunity to learn and understand more about NGCP and the power and energy industries through sponsored trainings and facility tours,” he added. For her part, Oliver cited the key role the CDO Energy Press Corps would be playing in the emerging issues affecting the power industry. “The challenge now – are we going to stop because we will then be tired of addressing the recurring issue of the communities planting trees within the danger zone or we will not stop until our job is done? Ladies and gentlemen the answer is in our hands,” she stressed. Besides Bautista, other dignitaries present for the induction rites included Reynaldo Maraunay-President of KBP-MisOr Chapter and Station Manager of DXCC-AM; Jerry Orcullo-President of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club; Engr. Jesselito Abamonga-Head of District 3 Mindanao O&M, NGCP and Atty. Vermin Quimco, Head for Mindanao Legal Department of NGCP who was also the inducting officer.
Ms. Beth Ladaga, NGCP RCCPA Officer for District 3 explains the rationale for the creation of the CDO Energy Press Corps
The whole affair was organized by Ms. Elizabeth Ladaga, regional corporate communications and public affairs officer for NGCP District 3 covering the Zamboanga Peninsula, the two Lanao provinces, Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.
-30-