As part of its sustained efforts to curb the spread of misinformation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga conducted an Information and Services Caravan and launched the Strengthening Information and Broadening Your Awareness (SIBYA) initiative in Barangay Sacol, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte on June 27, 2025.

These two major activities serve as a strategic effort by DSWD Caraga to bring accurate, clear, and correct information directly to grassroots communities, ensuring that beneficiaries and the general public receive correct details about the agency’s programs and services.

 

The SIBYA is a regionally conceptualized communication strategy by DSWD Caraga Regional Director Mari-Flor Dollaga and Policy and Plans Division Chief Elsa Jamora, crafted to address local information gaps and deepen awareness among local communities.

 

In addition to this, the caravan also introduced the Tamang Tulong sa Tamang Impormasyon or 3Ti, a nationally adopted strategy aimed at empowering participants to become better informed, more discerning, and proactive in verifying information related to the agency’s work. Through this initiative, participants were encouraged to verify facts and seek guidance directly from reliable DSWD messaging outlets, including the official social media pages of the agency, thereby helping curb the spread of misinformation.

Around 70 individuals who are beneficiaries of various DSWD programs actively participated in the activity, engaging in discussions, and raising questions about the agency’s different programs and services.

“We sincerely appreciate the DSWD for reaching out to our barangay and sharing clear, accurate information about your programs and services. Our questions were thoroughly addressed, especially those related to the 4Ps and SLP,” said Hazel Joy Figuracion, one of the participants.

 

For his part, DSWD Caraga Assistant Regional Director for Administration (ARDA) Tristan Telen stressed the vital contribution of these two strategic initiatives in countering misinformation and in promoting transparency by delivering reliable information directly to the community.

 

“This caravan plays a vital role in strengthening transparency and deepening the trust between DSWD Caraga and the communities we serve. By sharing accurate information about your rights and the wide range of assistance offered by the agency, the initiative empowers beneficiaries to make informed decisions and ensures they can fully access and benefit from the programs and services available to them,” remarked ARDA Telen.

Moving forward, DSWD Caraga plans to continue rolling out similar information caravans and local communication initiatives across the region — ensuring that accurate information about its programs and services consistently reaches communities and helps beneficiaries’ better access and utilize available assistance.