Mission

• To provide people with adequate information which will help them make better decisions and identify opportunities that could improve their quality of life.

• The goal is to create an enlightened citizenry who can participate meaningfully in democratic processes.

• A well-informed citizenry will then be able to understand, discuss, and vote on vital issues propelling the nation toward lasting peace and development.

Functions

    THE PIA:

• plans and carries out national information programs;

• assists other government agencies in carrying out the communication and information component of their programs;

• conducts research to formulate policy and to evaluate the effectiveness of information programs;

• determines information needs of the people;

• supports the development of indigenous media and of communication capability and technology; and

• establishes and maintains information centers in the regions and in the provinces.

Programs and Projects

1. The Communication Research program performs the listening function of the government to determine information needs and problems.
   • Media Studies Division - conducts studies to establish bases for planning and decision-making in program and project development and operations. It maintains the data storage and retrieval systems.

   • Public Opinion Research Division - monitors the social and political climate concerning government-related issues and communication programs and projects.
     
     
2. The Institutional Development program looks after the broadening of people's access to media and the upgrading of skills and ethical standards of communication personnel.
   • Program Development Division - serves as the link between the PIA and the other government and non-government institutions.

   • Human Resource Development Division - upgrades skills of government information officers and rural communication personnel through training and/or consultancy.

   • Media Infrastructure and Regional Operations Division - seeks to expand media coverages through development of media infrastructures, upgrading of facilities and widening of communication networks.
     
     
3. The Information Production program provides assistance in carrying out the communication component of government programs.
   • Creative Services Division - serves as the print arm of the PIA and represents the Agency in articulating its views and perceptions on the strategies and services for information campaigns of client agencies.

   • Special Media Division - the traditional media unit of the PIA; preserves and develops folk media forms, and promotes the use of folk media in the development communication.

   • National Broadcast Division - produces and disseminates all types of radio and TV info materials in support of government goals, objectives, and policies.

   • Motion Pictures Division - conceptualizes, produces, and distributes films that promote national and regional development.
   
   
4. The Dissemination arm of the PIA consists of a network of regional, provincial, and municipal-based Information Centers nationwide. It is the distribution center of information materials produced by the Agency.
   
   In the regional and provincial levels, projects include the use of tri-media in disseminating government information. Special media like development theaters are tapped.
   
   Activities like kapihan, barangay fora, trainings, conduct of Quick Response Surveys, opinion polls, radio programs, newsfeeds, and audio-visual presentations are part of the projects of the infocenters.

Structure

The Philippine Information Agency is one of the offices under the Office of the Press Secretary, directly under the Office of the President.

PIA is headed by a director-general. Its four main programs are Communication Research, Institutional Development, Information Production, and Dissemination.

It has 15 regional offices, 48 provincial based information centers, and 27 extension offices all over the Philippines.

The information centers together with the local government units operate the community development information centers (CDICs), which are manned by information officers appointed by local chief executives.

There are more than 565 CDICs throughout the country.