PIA 6 Recognizes Aklan SP Best Performing Information Office

by Nicolas Evan G. Fuentes
The Philippine Information Agency in Region VI (PIA-6) has adjudged the Information Unit of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan as one of the five (5) Best Performing Offices in the entire Western Visayas for 2022, the only Sanggunian to be given such recognition.
Receiving the same recognition as the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan are the Passi City Information Office, Knowledge Management Unit of the Department of Science and Technology Region 6, Bago City Public Affairs and Information Office and the Roxas City Communications Group.
This is the second time that SP Aklan is conferred the said award by PIA 6. In 2017, Aklan SP’S Information Unit was one among the Best Performing Information Offices (five) of Western Visayas, the only LGU information office in the region to be conferred such award. SP Aklan’s publication, The Legislator, was also once adjudged in 2018 and 2019 as one among the Best published newsletters of the region.
Recognitions on the performance of the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan came in succession after the office systems and processes had been duly recertified by TÜVRheinland to be in accordance with the standards of ISO 9001:2015 towards the end of 2022. The provincial legislative body was earlier recognized as three-peat Champion in Excellence in Local Legislation by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6 during this year’s Excellence in Local Governance Awards (EXCELL Awards). The Aklan SP is also very much a part of the Seal of Good Local Governance conferred on the Province of Aklan for six consecutive years starting in 2015.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan, through the leadership of Vice Governor Reynaldo M. Quimpo, has always placed information work as one of its priorities in raising public awareness about the legislative works of the provincial legislative body. Over the years, SP Aklan has been employing several tools to reach out to its constituents, be it in the private or government sector.
Spearheaded by Mr. Odon S. Bandiola, then Secretary to the Sanggunian and Information Officer-Designate, Ms. Richie Oloroso, the quarterly publication of SP Aklan “The Legislator” was first published in the year 2013 to serve as the printed information hub of the provincial legislative body which can be read by the people in the province containing news articles and other information about provincial legislation and other related activities of the Sanggunian.
Aside from the printed newsletter, Aklan SP regularly disseminates press releases to radio stations, news publications, and other media outlets. This is in addition to the live coverage of the Regular Sessions of the Sanggunian broadcasted every Monday at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.
With the increasing popularity and usage of Digital Information, the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan also disseminates news and information in its Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan Facebook page, in which it has already garnered more that 14,000 followers. SP Aklan regularly posts the schedules and conduct of the committee hearings as well as the highlights of the regular and special sessions on its FB page.
The award of the SP Aklan Information Unit was received by Information Officer-Designate and Administartive Assistant III Ms. Richie D. Oloroso, Administrative Office IV Mr. Michael T. Solanoy, Administartive Aide IV Ms. Luz Mary P. Rufon and Local Legislative Staff Assistant II Mr. Nicolas Evan G. Fuentes.
The SP Aklan Information is technically supervised by Vice Governor Quimpo, SP Consultant Odon Bandiola, and Acting Secretary to the Sanggunian Ms. Merlyn Montaño.
Other members of the SP Aklan Information Unit include: Ms. Ma. Fides Issanne S. Villaruel, Local Legislative Staff Assistant II; Ms. Mariz Gleah Faith Z. Zaspa, Administrative Aide VI; Mr. Chester Jude Sendon, Administrative Aide II; and Mr. Rosvel Inado, Private Secretary.
The awarding for the Search for Best Performing Information Office was held during the 2022 Western Visayas Information Officers’ Year-End Conference on December 28, 2022 at the District 21 Hotel, Iloilo City. The annual conference was organized by the Philippine Information Agency Region 6 in partnership with the Philippine