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PIDS Policy Note

This Policy Note examines the crisis and risk communication strategies employed by local government units in Metro Manila during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the importance of combining digital tools with traditional communication methods and emphasizes the need for improved communication planning, monitoring, and workforce capabilities. Recommendations include enhancing communication capacities and leveraging social media to combat misinformation and improve transparency.

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22 views1 page

PIDS Policy Note

This Policy Note examines the crisis and risk communication strategies employed by local government units in Metro Manila during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the importance of combining digital tools with traditional communication methods and emphasizes the need for improved communication planning, monitoring, and workforce capabilities. Recommendations include enhancing communication capacities and leveraging social media to combat misinformation and improve transparency.

Uploaded by

jennijengchii
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Crisis and Risk Communication during the COVID-19 Pandemic:

Lessons from Local Governments

Local government units (LGUs) have played a major role in implementing the
government’s pandemic response since 2020. An important component of the pandemic
response is crisis and risk communication. This Policy Note discusses the experiences of four
cities in Metro Manila, namely, Pasay, Manila, Caloocan, and Navotas, in implementing crisis
and risk communication at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected through
interviews with LGU representatives and augmented by a social media search and content
analysis of the four LGUs’ COVID-19-related posts on Facebook. Findings show the usefulness of
digital tools for internal and public communication, in tandem with traditional channels like
face-to-face communication and printed information-education-communication materials for
target audiences with limited access to modern tools. The Note emphasizes the importance of
institutionalizing communication planning, monitoring, and evaluation—a gap found in all four
LGUs—and beefing up their communication workforce, skills (especially in crisis, risk, and
science communication), equipment, and infrastructure. LGUs are advised to leverage social
media not just for delivering information but also for addressing fake news and increasing
transparency and responsiveness to their citizens.

While modern ICT tools, such as social media, instant messaging, and virtual meeting
platforms, are the most used and most popular communication channels, traditional channels
like face-to-face communication, printed IEC materials, and public address systems should not
be abandoned in the digital age, as these are important means to reach target audiences with
limited access to digital tools.

Communication is a core function that cuts across all the service areas of local
governments-with or without a pandemic. Having a strategic communication plan and a
communication M&E system is thus crucial. LGUs should also continuously enhance their
communication capacities by regularly upgrading their equipment, improving their digital
connectivity, ensuring adequate communication personnel, acquiring essential software and
applications, and allocating funds for communication training. • LGUs should maximize the
benefits of social media by using their Facebook pages and other social media accounts not just
to deliver information but also to correct fake news and increase their transparency and
responsiveness to their citizens.

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