Governor Sol Aragones is intensifying efforts to combat fake news by promoting accurate and timely public information that reaches the grassroots level, beginning with the barangays (villages).
Drawing from her experience as a broadcast journalist, Aragones underscored the significance of providing correct information. “Mahalaga ang impormasyon. Mahalaga rin na tama ang impormasyon na binibigay natin sa mga tao (Information is important. It is equally vital that the information we provide is correct),” she stated during a gathering of the Laguna Information Officers Network (LION) at the Governor’s Function Room in Santa Cruz town on Thursday afternoon.
She emphasized the necessity for public information to be accessible and easily understood. “When you tell a story or report news, it should be understood by everyone,” she added, clarifying her governance approach: “I look for what’s wrong so I can fix it,” focusing on solutions rather than assigning blame.
Acting Provincial Information Officer Danilo Lucas highlighted that the initiative aims to establish a public information officer, particularly during emergencies. “We must empower grassroots communication to combat misinformation effectively,” he remarked.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Jay Beltran also expressed his support, emphasizing the importance of unified messaging. “Whoever controls the narrative controls the story,” he stated. “One message, shared clearly, is more effective.”
Beltran commended the provincial government’s initiatives to provide training and support for local information officers, reinforcing the collaborative effort to ensure accurate information dissemination and enhance public understanding.