BORONGAN CITY. Feb 17 (PIA)-The Transparency Caravan of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) is going to the southeast part of the country particularly Borongan and Guiuan in Eastern Samar on February 18 and 19.

This was learned from PCOO Assistant Secretary and Freedom of Information Program Director Kristian Ablan.

Asec. Ablan said the biggest university in the province, the Eastern Samar State University in Borongan and Guiuan, will host the said event.

Important topics like Freedom of Information, Transparency through Civic Technology, Safeguarding Press Freedom, and Rehabinasyon are just some of the interesting topics to be shared.

Asec. Ablan added that the discussion of key officials involves various government initiatives of the Duterte administration.

"The Transparency Caravan aims to educate members of the academe in their right to information, promote the use of FOI as a tool for academic research and to inform them on other transparency initiatives of this administration."

Aside from the FOI topic, equally interesting is the strengthening of citizens' participation in governance through the Project Digital Imaging for Monitoring and Evaluation or project DIME of the Budget and Science and Technology departments.

Transparency through this civic technology aims to monitor the status and speed of implementation of high value government projects.

Another topic that could capture the techie youth and barangay folks is the DILG-DevLive, an online data capture and visualization platform which will also serve as monitoring and feedback tool for LGUs, CSOs and government personnel to usher a participatory, transparent and democratic partnership.

ESSU President Dr. Edmund Campoto said that it is the honor of the university to host the big event and that he has requested Students Affairs Dean Dr. Jonas Palada to assist in the preparation of the event that could involve a large audience.

In ESSU Guiuan, Administrator Dr. Andres Pagatpatan has also involved Dr. Julie Macasusi-Balatay for the Transparency Caravan in Guiuan for a 500- pax audience. The PCOO Transparency Caravan was in Biliran in January and in Guimaras early this February, and will continue to empower Filipinos in Bukidnon right after the Eastern Samar events. (nbq/PIA 8- E. Samar)