As part of its commitments in the operationalization of the Philippine Soil Partnership, the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Soils and Water Management, through its Information Office headed by Ms. Georgina Carmelle Z. Siena, organized the First Annual Information Officers’ Forum on the Philippine Soil Partnership (PSP) Action Area 3. The Forum was held on December 10, 2025 via hybrid format, at the BSWM Lopez Convention Hall and via Zoom platform.

The Activity that was participated in by more than 70 attendees from the various Information Officers and other representatives of the DA Agencies, aimed to introduce and discuss the Philippine Soil Partnership. Specifically, it targeted to provide awareness on the PSP; raise awareness, increase soil literacy and advocacy on Soil Health; and encourage the participants’ commitments towards the implementation of the PSP in their respective agencies.

Formally commencing the activity was through the Welcome Remarks delivered by the BSWM Director Dr. Gina Parde-Nilo, Ph.D. In her Message, Director Nilo underscored the relevance of the Forum as it is anchored on the three Action Areas under the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) – promoting soil knowledge and literacy; raising awareness and advocating for soil health; and fostering technical cooperation.

During the Forum, various presentations were also made to further deepen the participants’ understanding of the PSP and the soil resource for agriculture. As such, discussions were made by Dr. Karen S. Bautista regarding the Philippine Soil Partnership; by Ms. Georgina Carmelle Z. Siena regarding the BSWM’s interventions on the PSP Action Area 3; and Mr. Vince Albert P. Ching regarding the National Soil Health Program. Further, the DA Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division through Ms. Ira Cruz and Ms. Kristel Joyce Merle, gave a lecture on the Tips for Effectively Creating and Disseminating Technical/Scientific Content.

Also highlighted in the event was the Workshop Proper which was opened by Ms. Pett Ocampo, wherein she discussed the Workshop’s purpose, that is to equip the DA Public Information Officers with unified communication strategies aligned with the PSP Action Area 3, while also strengthening their roles in promoting soil health, sustainable land management, and evidence-based advocacies.

With this event being the first ever Information Officers’ Forum on PSP, the participants manifested their commitments in the advancement of the awareness raising on the importance of soil management for agriculture through the recitation and signing of the Manifesto of Commitment.

Successfully Closing the Forum was through the Message delivered by the BSWM Assistant Director Denise A. Solano where she thanked all the attendees for their manifestation of commitment for this undertaking in relevance to the sustainable management of soil resources for agriculture. She further emphasized the important roles of the Information Officers in further reaching out to the agricultural stakeholders.

(Ara Krizele Alcoriza, Info)

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