In the first quarter of 2014, the AFP through the leadership of CMO School and DWDD AM, has started the social media training for the AFP civilian employees tasked to promote the armed forces into the social media.
Read: AFP CMO School holds Social Media training
Fast forward to today, the AFP will be staging its first Social Media Summit on July 11, 2014 at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The lead agency is the Media and Civil Affairs Group and Civil-Military Operations School of the Civil Relations Service of the AFP. Together with public relations agency ArdentComm, the one-day conference will discusss key social media trends and issues as a tool to enhance online engagement within the Armed Forces and key partner organizations.
The Social Media Summit is also aimed at boosting and synergizing AFP’s online initiatives and strengthening nationalism and public service awareness through social media networks.
“According to reports, Internet users in the Philippines will reach 41 million by the end of 2014. Google recently reported that the Philippines is second top Internet user in South East Asia (39.43%), 6th in Asia, and 16th in the world. The UN Telecommunications Union reported in 4Q 2013 that more Filipinos are turning to the Internet to nourish relationships and build networks, read news and information, view video, buy products, and transact business. Currently, there are about 71 million Filipinos who are using Internet-enabled devices. This data provides us insights on understanding the Filipino mindset.” says CRS Commander BGEN ROMEO G GAN AFP.
In this light, BGEN GAN said AFP has deemed it fit to organize the summit “to improve information and communication management in the organization, enhance the skills of social media managers, build a bigger network with AFP’s civilian counterparts, and establish a structure or mechanism that will synergize and harness social media efforts to achieve organizational and national goals.”
The Summit will provide participants the opportunity to get insights on:
- Maximizing engagement and conversions with followers;
- Fine-tuning social media campaigns;
- Understanding social media channels beyond Twitter and Facebook;
- Managing online communities;
- Understanding that social media networks are critical in today’s public service;
- Using tools to leverage and maximize social media management efforts; and
- Measuring the effectiveness of social media initiatives.
The conference is expected to be attended by Information Officers from various units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of National Defense, Philippine National Police, Academic Institutions and other Government Organizations and Agencies. Non-government and Civil-Society organizations will also be invited.
