The City Information Office, in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Basilan, brought together the city’s Barangay Information Officers (BIOs) for the 3rd Quarter BION (Barangay Information Officers Network) Assembly and CLASS (Continuous Learning Acquisition and Approach Skills) Workshop on September 3 at Sakayan Hall, City Hall.
This quarter’s gathering went beyond routine updates. It focused on two skills increasingly important in government information work today: using Artificial Intelligence (AI) responsibly and telling stories effectively through short-form video and reels.
PIA Information Center Manager Nilda Delos Reyes opened the assembly with an update on the PBBM Scholarship Program and a timely reminder on the role of BIOs in ensuring that accurate and reliable information reaches every community. She also recognized Isabela City as a trailblazer in barangay-level information work.
For the first CLASS session, Information Officer III and CLASS Manager Marion Guerrero introduced the BIOs to the responsible use of AI in public information and government communications.
The discussion emphasized using AI for the common good while remaining mindful of privacy, cultural sensitivity, fairness, transparency, and safety. Most importantly, human judgment must remain at the center of the process.
The second session shifted from responsible technology use to digital storytelling, focusing on Balitang HAPIsabela (BH) and reels making. IsaTV reels makers Erfan Abdalil and Christopher Digon led the hands-on discussion.
Abdalil started with the fundamentals—what makes a reel effective, why it matters in government information work, and how to plan content through a shot list and editing workflow. One message stood out: good storytelling is not defined by the price or brand of the camera or phone, but by how effectively the story is captured and edited.
Digon then discussed why Balitang HAPIsabela has embraced reels as a way of reaching today’s audiences. With people increasingly drawn to shorter, more engaging content, reels provide an effective way to present city programs, activities, and public information in a format that is easier to watch, understand, and share.
The BIOs were also introduced to the basics of shooting news footage and editing, with both speakers showcasing reels they had produced for the City Government of Isabela and IsaTV pages—turning the lessons into real and relatable examples.
The assembly also covered key BION matters, including Barangay Brochure submissions, preparations for the upcoming Information Caravan, task assignments, and year-end plans and recommendations.
More than a quarterly meeting, the BION Assembly is an investment in the people who help bring government closer to the barangays.
As information channels continue to evolve, Isabela City’s BIOs are learning to evolve with them—using technology responsibly, sharpening their storytelling skills, and making public information more accessible, relevant, and engaging for the communities they serve.
Led by Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, the City Government of Isabela continues to strengthen BION as an important link between the City Government and the barangays—ensuring that government programs, services, and vital public information reach communities in a timely, accurate, and accessible manner.
Established in 2020, BION was created to strengthen barangay-level information dissemination and develop a network of trained information officers who can help bridge the information gap between the government and the people. Since then, the network has evolved into a platform for learning, coordination, and community storytelling.
