The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Strategic Communications is set to hold regional information caravans as part of its campaign to fight misinformation, disinformation, and fake news on the agency’s programs and services.
“Ngayong taon po ay magkakaroon ng dalawang information caravan per region. Ang tawag po namin dito ay ‘Tamang Tulong sa Tamang Impormasyon’ info caravan,” Director Clarissa Lara Duran of the Public Relations Service (PRS) told reporters at the DSWD Thursday Media
Forum on March 20.
According to Director Duran, the information caravan is designed to educate the public on
how and where to access accurate and verified information about the DSWD’s services.
“Ang target po nito ay mabigyan ng karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa mga programa
at serbisyo ng DSWD yung mga kababayan natin na walang access sa tamang impormasyon,” Director Duran said.
The information caravan will focus on reaching marginalized communities that often fall victim to misleading or false claims about government assistance programs.
“Unfortunately, ang madalas na nagiging biktima ng fake news, misinformation, and disinformation ay yung mga benepisyaryo ng DSWD dahil sila yung pinaka-nangangailangan,” the StratCom’s PRS director said.
Director Duran explained that the DSWD’s fight against fake news is a priority initiative of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, as misinformation and disinformation disproportionately affect the agency’s primary beneficiaries—the poor and the most vulnerable sectors of society.
“Ang ‘Tamang Tulong sa Tamang Impormasyon’ ay anti-misinformation and disinformation initiative ng DSWD. Ito po ay directive ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian. Kasi alam naman po nating lahat nasa digital age na po ngayon, ang daming lumalaganap na fake news,” Director Duran pointed out.
Director Duran also underscored that the “Tamang Tulong sa Tamang Impormasyon” is the DSWD’s proactive response to counter false narratives and misleading claims about the agency’s programs, ensuring that the public receives factual, timely, and transparent information. (YADP)