CALABARZON, November 22, 2023 – Improving skills in writing, data capturing, and content creation, 23 staff of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) CALABARZON underwent comprehensive course on news writing, photography, and social media management on October 17, 2023.

Resource Speakers of the activity were Mr. Radel Llagas, CALABARZON Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS) Chief, Mr. John Angelo Tasico, Media Production Specialist, and Ms. Ma. Betina Andrea Perez, RAFIS Social Media Specialist. 

Training Proper

Mr. Llagas introduced the elements, concept, and structure of news writing. He emphasized the structure of news, particularly the lead, stressing its role in capturing readers’ attention and keeping them engaged. In crafting the body of the news, one of the important takeaways is the need to write with the reader in mind, ensuring accuracy, brevity, and clarity for better comprehension.

To test the retention of information among the learners, an actual exercise on news writing was given to them with the sole instruction to apply the principles being taught. 

Mr. Tasico on the other hand, shared his expertise and insights in photojournalism, recognizing its significance as a visual counterpart to news writing – using images to communicate a story. Participants were captivated by how complex narratives can turn into visually-engaging stories that capture the interest of the readers and delve deeper about the subject matter.

Lastly, Social Media Specialist, Ms. Ma. Betina Andrea P. Perez taught the participants on how to establish and manage social media presence and create engaging content.  

In his closing message, Alternate Assistant Regional SAAD Focal Person Mr. Wilmer S. Faylon expressed his gratitude to the resource persons. He pointed out the importance of such training for the program implementers, especially in documenting its beneficiaries in the rural communities, while also informing society about public affairs and monitoring the actions of SAAD at all levels.

With this, SAAD CALABARZON hopes to give justice to the creation of  farmers’ stories of resilience, their origins, and relevant experiences. ###

Writers: Nicole C. Zarsuelo, DA-SAAD CALABARZON Information Officer, Jayvee Amir P. Ergino, DA-SAAD CALABARZON, Information Officer