Governance communication: A primer (In the context of disaster risk reduction and management)

Abstract

(EXCERPT) Governing is comparable to a situation where a family head talks and listens regularly to each of his/her family members’ concerns and interests. As with the head of the family, the government’s focus on its people’s welfare encompasses a multitude of concerns – health, food security, education, employment, peace and order, and disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), to name a few. DRRM has been a vital concern in recent years due to worldwide climate change conditions that have been wreaking havoc in the country and unduly affecting all aspects of people’s lives.

In implementing the policies, programs, and projects, communication is seen as one of the fundamental and crucial factors in the process of governing and in achieving the government’s development-oriented objectives.

Basically, this primer on governance communication is essential in understanding governance communication (govcomm) and its components (policy, institutions, personnel, media, communication mechanisms, and public sphere). This is important among government officials and stakeholders because it will serve as guide in studying their govcomm that will lead policy makers, and all the participants in the process, in formulating policies and ordinances related to governance and communication.