Bataan observes English Competency Week

Anchored on the theme “English as a Passport: Bataeños Ready for the World”, the Provincial Government of Bataan (PGB) observed this year’s English Competency Week highlighting the importance of language proficiency in education, communication, and global competitiveness.

Organized by the Provincial Information Office (PIO) the event featured two activities designed to enhance the communication skills of Bataeños. On September 16, the PGB, Excellence in Campus Journalism: English News Writing Contest was held at the Tourism Pavilion, Balanga City. The event gathered student journalists from across the province and provided them with opportunities to showcase their writing skills and deepen their appreciation of journalism as a tool for public service. Guest speaker Mr. Nestor Cuartero, veteran journalist and Manila Bulletin columnist, underscored the values of integrity, critical thinking, and effective communication in the practice of journalism. The contest was divided into three categories—Junior High School, Senior High School, and Collegiate—with winners receiving cash prizes.

The next day, a seminar-workshop on Effective English Communication for Public Engagement, was also held at the Tourism Pavilion. The first session, News Writing and Basic Social Media Captioning for Information Officers, was facilitated by Ms. Marie Joy S. Carbungco, Information Officer III of the Philippine Information Agency Region III. This was followed by Enhancing Workplace Efficiency through Basic AI Prompting, conducted by Ms. Andrea Theresse B. Jumpalad, Project Development Officer II of the Department of Information and Communications Technology Region III. The sessions provided participants with practical skills in information dissemination and workplace efficiency using modern communication tools.

Through these activities, the Provincial Government of Bataan reaffirmed its commitment to fostering English proficiency among students and strengthening communication skills in public service, equipping Bataeños to become more competitive and effective in both local and global arenas.