Community newspaper launched
14 February 2011
Quezon City Third District Rep. Jorge ‘Bolet’ Banal announced the launch of ‘Lucky Pick,’ a free monthly community newspaper in Filipino.
Published by the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership in partnership with Banal’s office, the newspaper features national and local concerns in addition to his program and policy initiatives. Named after a lotto term, ‘Lucky Pick’ also contains sports and entertainment news, lottery tips, and will include more sections and articles contributed by readers and other government agencies. It is targeted to reach those without Internet access and prefer Filipino as a more practical language of public information sources.
“Instead of simply providing a traditional report of our programs and accomplishments, we wanted to engage citizens as well as other members of the government,” said Banal. “So we thought of presenting it in a more creative format. Now that the word is out, we hope to hear more from the stakeholders—their take on issues, from the barangay to the rest of the country.”
The maiden issue had 5,000 copies and eight pages, and it reported on Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista’s socialized housing project for the urban poor, the 2011 national budget, and health and education programs available to District 3 residents.
Banal was named Kaya Natin! champion with founders Department of Interior Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo, former Governors Ed Panlilio of Pampanga and Grace Padaca of Isabela in 2009. The group recently published performance reports of its members in active public service to reinforce the role of Filipinos as government watchdogs. It featured Banal’s yearend report, containing his key bills, resolutions and Congressional efforts as House Deputy Majority Leader and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Basic Education and Culture from July to December 2010. It also detailed district initiatives, including partnerships with NGOs on education and health, among them the Maternal Healthcare Program for Barangay Pansol with the Office of Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, Institute for Popular Democracy, Institute of Politics and Governance, and SINAG Cooperative.
“We will also publish the report on ‘Lucky Pick’ so that our constituents will be aware of these efforts and how they can join, whether as beneficiaries or volunteers,” Banal said.
A coauthor of the Freedom of Information bill in the 15th Congress, Banal’s office is also utilizing new media as a tool for responsible citizenship and good governance. The official site (boletbanal.com) and social media page (facebook.com/boletbanal) were introduced this year. Aside from updates on bills filed by Banal and other House members, both contain information on local and national government services useful to constituents. Volunteer individuals and organizations of the popular community-based reading campaign in Quezon City, ilove2read, can also reach his office through the said sites.
