PCOO and BCS launch 'Ugnay: Connecting with the People'

With the intention of making government publications easily accessible so government information and initiatives may be known and used by the public, the book "Ugnay: Connecting People" was launched at the National Library Thursday.

This book, developed by the Bureau of Communications Services (BCS) under the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), lists more than 500 publications from the 20 government line departments to help any researcher navigate through the web of available government information resources.

It is also the first of its kind in the public sector perceived as the ultimate reference material to help government agencies reach a wider audience and at the same time give the public accurate and concise information.

"It is the task of every agency and bureau under the government to disseminate information to the public for their own good," PCOO Sec. Herminio "Sonny" Coloma, Jr said in an interview.

"Once they know this, there will be a higher chance of them being interested in being part of government programs and reforms for change," he added, explaining that more than connecting with people, the book was also meant to engage and transform them.

During the book launch and exhibit, the manifesto of renewed support was signed by agency heads and public information officers in the executive branch.

This was followed by the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) by National Library asst. director, Yolanda Jacinto and BCS director, John Manalili in the presence of Sec. Coloma and Optical Media Board Chair Ronnie Ricketts.

Ugnay's back-story and its sequel

The process of gathering the content for "Ugnay involved conducting two surveys – one to collect profiles and cover photos of different publications and another to get the expectations of publications managers on content, lay-out and design of the book.

This progression took place within eight months from November 2011 to June 2012.

BCS director Manalili said in an interview that although the book is targeted for public information officers, it will be up to them to share it with the public.

"We will be furnishing the National Library with copies of it and officials who attended the exhibit will each be given a copy in printed form," Manalili said.

"A digital form will also be posted in the BCS website so it can be downloaded by anybody."

Production costs for 3, 000 initial copies of the book amounted to P300, 000, according to Manalili while CDs cost only about ten pesos for each duplication copy, but the BCS chief also said there was more in store for Ugnay.

"We are planning to come out with a sequel of this – Ugnay 2 – so that it is updated," he said.

"We plan to start collecting data within this year so that the book will probably be available by next year." (PNA)