Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, to engage the services of local radio stations was part of the Annual Operations Plan and Budget (AOPB) Proposal for the Constitutional Reform Program. This was proposed by no less than the Regional Project Management Team for Constitutional Reform of DILG Caraga Region XIII. The proposal was brought about by the need that the message of CORE should be heard by the masses. One medium to bring that into reality is the use of the radio airwaves.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 set in. The said plan was put on the shelves due to budgetary constraints. However, this did not deter the CORE management team to tweak and reconsider the plan. Brought about by the new normal, video-conferencing is one of the platforms that can convey the message of CORE. Hence, this concept of Kapihan sa PIA came into fruition.

The CORE Kapihan sa PIA is a social media event. The role of the PIA is to invite media partners to be on board on the scheduled video conference. This will be handled and controlled by the Center for Federalism and Constitutional Reform Project Management Office. All radio partners and all other media platforms who wish to join the online discussion on the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution may be provided with a meeting I.D. and password to gain access.

In a brief pre-coordination meeting with Assistant Regional Director Fryan E. Abkilan of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga Region XIII, last July 9, 2020, the said Agency had committed to invite all radio stations and all media platforms here in Caraga Region. 

DILG Caraga Region sent invitations looking for at least one radio station who will sponsor to commit to air, in real time, the said online discussion. Luckily, it was not just one but two, HOPE Radio and Radyo Trumpeta, affirmatively responded and had committed to allot a maximum of two (2) hours of free time slot for the broadcast on July 24, 2020 at 9:00 to 11:00 in the morning. With this commitment, the CORE Kapihan sa PIA Caraga Region version is officially on the roll.

With the finalized schedule, the CFCR will formally hold a pre-coordination meeting, via zoom video conference, with HOPE Radio on 21 July 2020 at 9:00 in the morning. This will serve as a venue to discuss preparations for the success of the forthcoming event.

As committed by the CFCR, our speakers for the said upcoming event are Atty. Vince Homer T. Revil, the National Chairman for the CORE Movement, Sec. Gary B. Olivar, Professors Alfredo A. Sureta, Jr., and Eric Daniel de Torres, and former Vice-Governor of Camarines Sur, Fortunato “Ato” Pena.

On July 24, 2020, let us all listen and hear the message about the proposed amendments of the 1987 Constitution. It pays to know!

 

By  Michael Angelo B. Tero, CoRe Regional Project Officer, Designated Regional Desk Officer for LSIs and ROFs