(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Tuesday, 01 July 2025) At 3:00 AM today, a Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated based on all available data at 1,230 km East of Central Luzon (15.3°N, 133.1°E). Southwest Monsoon affecting Visayas, Mindanao, Central Luzon, and Southern Luzon. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to Southwest Monsoon. Possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from Southwest to West will prevail with slight to slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 1.5 meters).


Friday, 30 May 2025

Health for All: DOH pushes simple language in public messaging

By Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) recently convened stakeholders and communicators from various regions for a three-day Health Literacy Seminar for Media Practitioners, emphasizing the use of simple, everyday language in health communication.

The event, held in General Luna, Surigao Del Norte, drew participants from Regions 9, 10, and Caraga, including media practitioners, health promotion officers, health workers, and information officers. The seminar served as a platform to enhance regional collaboration and develop more effective strategies for health promotion and public communication through accurate, inclusive, and community-based health messaging.

The DOH Central Office, through its Health Promotion Bureau, organized the seminar to underscore the crucial role of local communicators and media in supporting the government’s health agenda and combating misinformation.

Dr. Dominic Maddumba, director III of the DOH Health Promotion Bureau, stressed the importance of making health information relatable and understandable to the public.

“Health communication should not just be technically correct; it must be accessible to all sectors of society,” Maddumba said. “It starts with using simple everyday language when discussing medical and public health issues. When we say it simply, we empower people to make informed decisions about their health.”

Dr. Maddumba presented common medical terms and provided practical tips on how they can be translated into language that resonates with diverse audiences, particularly in communities with limited access to formal health education.

For local journalists and media personnel, the seminar offered a rare opportunity to engage directly with public health officials and gain deeper insights into communication’s role in building healthier communities.

Jabes A. Juanite, bureau chief of Net 25 Surigao Del Norte, expressed her appreciation for the initiative, noting its relevance and impact on her profession.

“As a media practitioner, I gained a better understanding of the importance of using the right health terms and breaking them down into simpler concepts,” Juanite said. “This seminar gave me valuable knowledge that will definitely help improve how I report on health issues. It’s about delivering information that people can truly comprehend.”

The DOH emphasized that this initiative is part of its broader thrust to institutionalize health literacy and foster a culture of prevention and wellness by engaging all sectors of society, including the media, as partners in health promotion.

The participants expressed their commitment to apply their learnings in their respective areas, serving as community advocates for accurate, timely, and empowering health information.  (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)