A PIO's Scope of Work
At times, people get confused about the scope of work of a town's PIO, so I am forced to review my so-called mandate as PIO-Designate.
Each time, I am reminded that a PIO at the municipal level is not mandatory in the Local Government Code despite its necessity, unlike in a city. My role upon hiring was merely to "report to the people (of our town) the accomplishments of the mayor." With the passing of an ordinance creating a merged tourism and information department, my role remains essentially the same. Anything I do beyond that is done out of the kindness and generosity of my heart.
One of the things that is clearly not my role is to replace media or be like the local version of GMA, ABS-CBN, or CNN, or even Google. All I am answerable to is the question, "What did the mayor do in terms of service to the town?" and everything related to it.
For example, I shouldn't be expected to give a blow-by-blow account of an ongoing storm or flood like PAGASA, or crime, fire, accidents, arrest of convicted criminals, and the like, like Alvin Elchico or Doris Bigornia. Although I have the right to know the details of these, my job is to report the local chief executive's response to these incidents in the name of public service. If I have to be legalistic about it, the scope of my work is even limited to the executive branch of local government, if you think about it. I also do not have the obligation to report other events in town that do not involve the LGU as organizer or provider of any form of significant assistance.
A quick online search of other towns' and cities' PIOs and their mandate would indicate the same.
I hope this delineation of task is clear to all.
(Artwork: Analog vs digital self-portrait titled "Panakot sa daga")
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