IABC Philippines, IPRA Philippines, & PRSP partner to boost COVID-19 vaccine acceptance

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Three of the country’s major communication groups - International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC Philippines), International Public Relations Association Philippines (IPRA Philippines), and the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) are joining forces to ramp up COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in the Philippines.

On April 20, 2021, Tuesday, 4 p.m., the three organizations will jointly host “Vax Populi: Driving COVID-19 Acceptance”, a free webinar that aims to equip communicators in crafting vaccine rollout communication plans, provide a platform for public-private collaboration on vaccine awareness and acceptance, and increase vaccine acceptance levels among webinar participants.

Only 19% of adult Filipinos are open to being vaccinated against COVID-19, while 46% are unwilling, even if an effective and safe vaccine is available, a February 2021 study by OCTA Research showed.

Vax Populi will feature three speakers: Margot Torres, McDonald’s Philippines Managing Director and co-lead of Ingat Angat (a private sector-led consumer confidence and vaccine education campaign), who will discuss private sector efforts in the fight against COVID-19; Dr. Beverly Ho, Health Promotion Bureau Chief of the Department of Health, will discuss how communication can help the country achieve herd immunity; and Dr. Mario Panaligan, Philippine College of Physicians President, who will help laymanize vaccine facts and debunk myths surrounding the vaccines.

Registration for Vax Populi is still ongoing. Webinar details will be shared to participants upon registration and completion of a pre-event survey (https://forms.gle/W92BTukQ29JrrdHb7).

 

About IABC Philippines

IABC Philippines is an association of top business, industrial and organization communicators and professionals. It supports the highest professional standards and practice of exceptional quality and innovation in organization and business communication. It advocates for continued professional growth and learning and communication excellence, linking Philippines practitioners with colleagues and practices worldwide.

 

About IPRA Philippines

The International Public Relations Association (Philippines) is the local chapter of the professional organization for senior international public relations executives, with membership in up to 95 countries. IPRA aims to promote trusted communication and the ethical practice of public relations among its members and the community it serves.

 

About PRSP

The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) is the country’s premier organization for communication and PR professionals. In its roster are practitioners who represent business and industry, the academe, government, non-profit organizations, and professional services, among others.

Upcoming 27th PR Congress Puts Spotlight on Mental Health in the Workplace

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Makati, Philippines – Mental health is the third most common disability in the country, with about 6 million Filipinos living with depression and/or anxiety, according to WHO. Lack of data fails to present an accurate and complete picture of the status of mental health in the Philippines today, but previous studies by WHO, the Philippine Statistics Office and other bodies indicate mental health is a serious – and growing – concern.

The pandemic is further aggravating the anxiety of many Filipinos already worried about their livelihood and uncertain about the future

As the pandemic continues to unsettle the country, constricting the economy, causing deaths and job losses, disrupting education and work, and painting an even more uncertain future for Filipinos, the number of people with anxiety and other similar mental health concerns is estimated to have risen further. The National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) reported a marked increase in calls received during the pandemic than before, with the monthly average from March to May last year more than double the monthly average from May 2019 to February 2020 or before the pandemic. Calls received by the NCMH related to suicide likewise spiked.

The upcoming 27th National Public Relations Congress, an annual gathering of communication practitioners from across the different industries and sectors of society, will tackle this pressing matter this February 17 to 19. Mental health in the workplace, in particular, will be a hot topic scheduled for the third day, which will be dedicated to deep diving into narratives punctuating many of today’s business actions and discussions, especially on social media, such as the environment, equality, diversity and leadership.

Jane Fordham, a strategic people consultant with two decades of experience in agencies and the creative industries, will share her insights on how to ensure mental health in the workplace, noting how the PR industry is often perceived as very stressful. The discussion will try to look into ways of detecting mental health needs among office and work team members, how organizations and businesses can create an atmosphere of positivity and collaboration in the workplace, and what measures or programs should be in place to assist team members with mental health needs.

Themed Transcend, the 27th National PR Congress hopes to enjoin communication practitioners to work more closely together to contribute to addressing social issues and make a lasting impact on the nation in line with PRSP’s 2020 theme of PR for Good. The annual conference will likewise explore the outlook for the PR industry as it rebounds from the setbacks resulting from the pandemic and gears up for the challenges and opportunities in this new decade.

PRSP President Norman Agatep, APR, said: “As we revisit our business plans and strategies for this new year and decade, we must also look into how we can better work with the society to address concerns that impact not just businesses and the economy but the whole nation. That is part of our commitment as the industry storytellers.”

Ana Pista, PRSP vice president for external affairs and Congress chair, added: “As in previous congresses, we want this annual conference to be a platform for meaningful discussions and exploring solutions to our problems as an industry and nation. Mental health is a serious matter, one of many issues we need to prioritize, and we hope that through the Congress we can help start the discussion on how to ensure we have the right programs in place for our people.”

For more information about the 27th National Public Relations Congress, visit the event website or Facebook page or contact Lessa Azcarraga at lessa.azcarraga@ardent.com.ph.