Bi±an city: The Barangay Information Officers (BIOs) program in Laguna will be formally piloted in Bi±an City on Sept. 15 as part of the province's push to boost grassroots communication, an official said Thursday. In a statement, Provincial Information Officer Danilo Lucas said the initiative follows Governor Sol Aragones' directive in August to revive the Laguna Information Officers Network at the grassroots level. The program seeks to build the capacity of BIOs in delivering accurate, timely, and engaging information to the public.

According to Philippines News Agency, all 24 barangays in Bi±an will designate representatives who will serve as vital links between the local government and the community. Sangguniang Kabataan leaders will also participate in the program. The training will cover basic news writing and photography, debunking fake news and disinformation, social media etiquette, event captioning, and data privacy.

'This BIO network will encourage knowledge-sharing and collaboration among other towns and cities,' Lucas added. Bi±an City Information Officer Roman Carencia, meanwhile, emphasized the crucial role of BIOs in countering misinformation. 'BIOs are the first line of defense against the spread of fake news. This training will equip them with the right skills to share reliable updates - from disaster alerts to government programs - in ways that resonate with residents,' Carencia said.

He noted that the initiative has the full support of Bi±an's officials and funding secured in the 2025 budget. Laguna has 681 barangays spread across 24 municipalities and six cities, based on the 2020 census.