PIA regional arms to launch textblasting as a means to send news alerts

By Ma. Cristina C. Arzadon

Saturday 23rd of June 2012

BAGUIO CITY, June 23 (PIA) -- The regional offices of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) recently adopted the “infoboard” service of telecommunications network Smart in sending alerts and important advisories straight to the mobile phones of subscribers.

Through the infoboard, PIA will be able to conveniently and efficiently broadcast general information, advisories, or community-related announcements to smart subscribers who are enrolled to the service.

The infoboard is a web-based communication tool for sending and receiving information within a specified community. It allows an administrator to use any Internet-enabled computer to promptly reach via SMS identified recipients with about 100,000 text message allocation per month or more for free.

Regional Director Helen Tibaldo of PIA Cordillera Administrative Region said regional PIA centers have began building their recipients of information using the “text blast” program to reach the general public who are subscribed to Smart.

“We have partnered with local government units, schools, and universities as our initial recipients of timely and significant information for the public’s benefit,” Tibaldo, also head of PIA’s northern and central Luzon cluster, said.

The PIA has expanded its recipients to include other sectors like media, national government agencies, local government units, judiciary, religious groups, private organizations, and other sectors.

The text blast has been found useful in sending typhoon and flood alerts to areas which are vulnerable to flooding, landslides, and storm surges.

Officials of PIA offices from Northern and Central Luzon were briefed of the service during their cluster meeting here. They also sat down with Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, for the Agency’s policy directions and other concerns. (JCR/CCA/PIA 1-Ilocos Norte)