The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to embark on a nationwide information campaign dubbed ‘Tamang Tulong sa Tamang Impormasyon’ that will amplify the agency’s fight against misinformation and disinformation in the agency’s programs and services.“Ito pong Tamang Tulong sa Tamang Impormasyon, ito ‘yung initiative or ‘yung primary information campaign ng DSWD laban sa fake news at saka maling impormasyon,” Director Clarissa Lara Duran of the Public Relations Service (PRS) explained in an interview on Saturday (April 12) at the Teleradyo program ‘Serbisyong DSWD for Every Juan.’
Director Duran said the ‘Tamang Tulong sa Tamang Impormasyon’is the brainchild of Secretary Rex Gatchalian which seeks to safeguard the public from unscrupulous individuals that continue to exploit the needs of the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors to advance their own agenda.“‘Yung pinaka-kliyente talaga ng DSWD kasi tatlo po ‘yan, yung poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors. So, sila na yung disadvantaged nahihirapan na sila sa buhay, tapos ‘pag nakakaranas sila ng distress o ng crisis, eh ‘di lalo silang nangangailangan. Kapag napupunta yung isang tao sa ganon, tapos may magpapadala ng link na nagsasabing mag-sign up ka lang, pwede kang manalo ng Php5,000, syempre, ang unang maiisip nila ay i-grab ‘yung opportunity,” the DSWD official explained.
Director Duran said the ‘Tamang Tulong sa Tamang Impormasyon’ banks on the importance of empowering the public’s access to factual, and credible information to nurture their resiliency from fraudulent schemes and misleading information.
“Sobrang critical na para makakuha ng tamang tulong ‘yung mga kababayan nating nangangailan, dapat meron silang access sa tamang information tungkol sa programs and services ng DSWD,” the PRS director pointed out.
As part of the campaign, the Department and its Field Offices (FOs) nationwide are spearheading information caravans to educate the public on how and where to access accurate and verified information about the DSWD’s programs and services.
Orientation on the 3TI campaign is being institutionalized across the agency’s activities nationwide, including the regular conduct of family development sessions (FDS) for the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Director Duran assured the public that the ‘Tamang Tulong sa Tamang Impormasyon’ caravan will mobilize grassroot initiatives to ensure that no one will be left behind in this campaign which will provide a sustainable solution to the pressing issue of fake news.
“Naiintindihan namin na yung mga kliyente namin, hindi lahat merong access sa internet. Hindi lahat merong smartphone o data kaya ang ginagawa naming. Kasama yung mga Field Office namin pumupunta po kami sa mga geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) para bigyan sila ng orientation tungkol sa programs and services ng DSWD,” Director Duran said.
The third episode of ‘Serbisyong DSWD for Every Juan’ was anchored by Winnie Cordero, together with Information Officer Bianca Piedad-Tamondong of the DSWD’s Traditional Media Service (TMS). The program airs every Saturday from 11 am to 12 noon at DWPM Radyo 630. (LSJ)