West Visayas State University (WVSU) participated in the Regional Development Council (RDC) VI capacity-building activity on strategic communication, with a focus on media relations and social media management, Aug. 18-19, 2026 at the RDC VI Conference Hall of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Region 6.

Representing WVSU were Planning Officer Michael Gervero of the University Planning and Development Office, and Information Officer Jessa Temelo of the Public Affairs and Marketing Communications Office.

The two-day activity brought together information and media officers from state universities and colleges (SUCs), local government units, national government agencies and private sector organizations across Western Visayas. It provided participating institutions an opportunity to strengthen their communication practices and build networks for more coordinated and effective public information work.

The first day covered key areas in strategic communication, beginning with “Leveraging Development Communication for Effective Governance,” delivered by Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region 6 Head Cheryl B. Amor. This was followed by a session on media and information literacy by PIA Information Officer Liez’l Marie Ejeda and a discussion on media relations and public relations by PIA Assistant Regional Head Easter Anne Doza.

The second day shifted to applied learning through media relations simulations. Participants worked in groups and took on different roles in simulated press conferences, press release delivery, media tours and media launches, allowing them to apply communication principles and media engagement strategies in practical scenarios.

The day also featured a session on social media management delivered by PIA Information Officer Franz Remar Garion, highlighting the role of social media in communicating institutional initiatives and engaging public audiences.

Beyond the formal sessions and simulation exercises, the activity also opened opportunities for stronger collaboration among information officers from SUCs across Region 6. WVSU, along with representatives from other SUCs, participated in an informal gathering to establish connections and explore potential collaborations, joint activities and initiatives among SUC information officers.

WVSU’s participation underscores the university’s commitment to continuous capacity building and to strengthening its institutional communication practices. Through engagements such as this, the university contributes to and learns from a broader network of public information professionals working to communicate development initiatives more effectively across Western Visayas.