DFA Consular Office in Cagayan de Oro Personnel Participate in E-Diplomacy Course 

Cover page of one of the presentations in the E-Diplomacy course (Dr. Zapata Photo)

CAGAYAN DE ORO 06 October 2020 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Consular Office (CO) in Cagayan de Oro’s personnel participated in an online course entitled “E-Diplomacy: Public Diplomacy and Social Media” offered by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) in the month of September 2020. 

The Public Diplomacy course focused on the use of social media as an effective tool to communicate government policies to the public. It also covered media literacy, crisis communication, legal norms and ethical practices in using social media, and explored key issues plaguing social media such as the proliferation of fake news.

“What I have learned from the course is that diplomacy's traditional approach is complemented and catalyzed by the presence of social media. Social Media amplifies communication and extends reach especially in times of crisis,” Ms. Ginny Kate Alcantar said, Consular Office personnel who finished the 29-hour E-Diplomacy course. 

“The course was interactive and engaging; each of us were afforded a moment to share our ideas and insights with the other participants. I also had the opportunity to ask a question to Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Teodoro Locsin, Jr.,” Ms. Alcantar added.

The Consular Office’s participation in various e-learning courses demonstrates the office’s unwavering commitment to improving the delivery of consular services to its clientele amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. END

The participants of the online course entitled “E-Diplomacy: Public Diplomacy and Social Media”. (Cagayan de Oro CO photo)