PIA bolsters community awareness, engagement through ‘Panagtigum’
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY — Real-life stories of struggle and resilience took center stage in Barangay Lingayao as the second episode of Panagtigum once again highlighted the power of grassroots convergence in addressing most pressing community concerns.
Spearheaded by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga Regional Information Center, in partnership with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) and Radyo Pilipinas Butuan, and the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), Panagtigum continues to gain momentum as an effective platform for promoting grassroots awareness and information literacy across the region.
Tackling a range of issues from health and education to social welfare and family development, Panagtigum brought essential government services and timely information directly to the barangays, where conversations needed to happen the most. For this episode, the spotlight was on teenage pregnancy, a concern raised by Barangay Lingayao officials led by Punong Barangay Noli Jay Dapat, citing the growing number of cases in recent years.
Testimonials from young mothers like Jourine Dula and concerned parents such as Jane Olayan offered raw, firsthand insights into the challenges of early pregnancy.
“Having a pregnant daughter at her young age was not that easy for a mother like me. I saw the need to constantly guide her as she was then still studying at the same time taking care of herself and the baby in her womb,” shared Olayan, a mother who thrived to cope with life’s challenges and showed her daughter that life doesn’t end when a minor gets an unwanted pregnancy, during Panagtigum sa Barangay held at the covered court of Brgy. Lingayao, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte.
She also shared that she understood how vulnerable the young ones are and realized the immense responsibility parents carry in guiding and molding the values, character, and personality of their children.
Meanwhile, Rizel Shaira Hope S. Tanaman, Division Federation Supreme Secondary Learners Government (FSSLG) President of Schools Division Office Agusan del Norte, shared that the school, barangay, and local government of Las Nieves continue to implement advocacy campaigns, symposiums, and other community-based programs to educate the youth on teenage pregnancy.
Meanwhile,
CPD Caraga Director Alexander Makinano emphasized that Panagtigum is not solely
about teenage pregnancy.
“This
platform is about listening to communities, identifying their most urgent
concerns, and ensuring that government agencies respond with accurate,
relevant, and timely information,” Dir. Makinano said.
He
commended the convergence initiative as a tangible expression of the Philippine
government’s commitment under Memorandum Circular No. 40, series of 2023, which
supported the Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action 2023–2028.
The policy promotes inter-agency collaboration to address critical development
issues including adolescent health, education, family planning, and poverty
alleviation.
The event drew over 300 participants, including students, teachers, parents, out-of-school youth, and barangay leaders—who actively engaged in discussions and open forums. Topics ranged from sexual and reproductive health to digital safety, parenting, access to services, and strengthening family communication.
Dapat, represented by Barangay Councilman Amorita Arranz and SK Chairperson Reyjil Calaga, both stressed the importance of sustained collaboration and regular dialogues like Panagtigum. They shared that recent community initiatives, such as school-based awareness campaigns, cultural events, and youth sports programs, have contributed to a notable milestone of “zero reported cases” of teenage pregnancy in the last five months.
“We need to have these conversations regularly, not just about teenage pregnancy, but also about mental health, livelihood, disaster preparedness, and other issues affecting our youth and families,” said Calaga.
Panagtigum, meant gathering in local dialect, is conducted in locations nearest to the local communities such as the barangay hall, school, among others. It emerged as a replicable and sustainable model of people-centered governance. By bridging the gap between government and the grassroots and fostering two-way communication, it paved the way for a more informed, empowered, and resilient citizenry.
As Panagtigum continues to be rolled out across the Caraga region, more communities stand to benefit—proving that when people are informed, they are empowered. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)
