Ateneo Policy Center researcher Sheena Valenzuela receives Best Paper Award at the 2022 PSPA International Conference

On November 23, 2022, Ateneo Policy Center Research Associate Sheena Valenzuela received the Best Paper Award at the 2022 International Conference of the Philippine Society for Public Administration held in Cebu City. 

Valenzuela presented her paper titled “Challenges and Best Practices in the COVID-19 Crisis Communication of the Philippine Department of Health” in the panel session on Innovations, strategies, lessons learned, and best practices in public administration/service in Covid 19 and beyond.

Valenzuela’s paper was adapted from her Governance Innovation Report (GIR) at the Ateneo School of Government’s Master in Public Management Program. Her participation in the conference also received support from the Office of the Vice President for Professional Schools.

Her study analyzed the challenges and best practices in the crisis communication of the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It covered the period from January 2020, when the first case was reported in the Philippines, to May 31, 2020, when the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was lifted in major parts of the country. The study utilized key informant interviews with DOH executives, media executives, public health experts, and civil society organization (CSO) leaders. 

The study identified daily media briefings as among the best practices in crisis communication. On the other hand, the lack of formalized communication roles in the DOH was identified as the main challenge in crisis communication. The paper recommended the creation of plantilla positions for public relations officers in the DOH to improve communication processes, strengthen institutional memory, and build trust with stakeholders.