By PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead in a series of events on Wednesday in line with the 25th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the lead agency which serves as the direct link of communication between the government and the people as well as a dais where the citizens could express their opinions, views and beliefs to the highest official of the land.

Upon his arrival, the President will be received by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” B. Coloma Jr. and PIA Director General Jose Fabia.

Topping President Aquino’s activities are the launching of the agency’s newest technological approach in efforts to better serve the Filipino people, the PIA’s New Website and SMS portal.

Following the launch, the Chief Executive will also witness the turnover of the symbolic discs by Fabia to Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) Undersecretary Manolo Quezon III. The discs are PIA’s collection that will be handed to the Presidential Museum and Library under the PCDSPO.

Culminating the President’s attendance to the PIA event will be the viewing of the PIA Exhibit and Art Gallery.

PIA was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 100 issued on Dec. 24, 1986 in accordance with revolutionary legislative powers of then President Corazon C. Aquino under the 1986 Freedom Constitution.

Upon its creation, the PIA was envisioned to provide a free flow of accurate, timely and relevant information that will assist the people in decision-making and identification of opportunities to improve quality of life. It also enables the citizenry to participate meaningfully in the democratic processes.

Its tasks include the establishment and maintenance of selected regional/provincial information centers on community needs for use in planning communications programs and provide basic information of government and on areas of particular interests to the community it serves.

The provision of technical assistance to other government agencies on the communication component of their programs; initiate the planning and implement the information programs of national scope; assessment of information needs of the people through opinion polls and surveys to be used to systematically obtain the public’s needs and views on government programs and to plan information programs; lead in the conduct of research studies for policy formulation and the evaluation of information program effectiveness; and the upgrading of skills of government information officers, rural broadcasters, communicators, journalists and other communications personnel through training services and/or consultancy, among others.