ZAMBOANGA CITY: Some 15
internally-displaced persons (IDPs) or bakwits from Buggoc, Tulungatung and
Mampang underwent training in citizen peace journalism, a PIA report said.
The training, dubbed “Restoring
Trust and Confidence and Strengthening Inter-Ethnic and Interfaith Peace Forum
and Dialogue,” is a project of the Integrated Resource Development for
Tri-People (IRDT).
Carlo Benitez, project coordinator said that
the activity’s objective is to enable participants to “appreciate community
peace media and its role.”
He added the IDPS will be able to put
to use what they’ve learned in rebuilding their communities and develop a
working relationship with other news information offices like the Philippine
Information Agency (PIA).
The training involved directions of
news gathering, news writing and also on the proper use of social media such as
Facebook.
A workshop provided the
participants what to properly report from events and activities.
Some of the participants shared
that they face many issues that they find it hard to “reach the government.”
With the training, they can now share
their problems through social media so that the agencies will be aware and properly
address it.
Towards the end of the workshop,
the community peace media group was formed and a representative was selected
who will join the Communications Working Group (CWG).
The CWG periodically meets to share
communication-related issues among IDPs.