GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — The Iranun Development Council (IDC) strengthened its communications system through a two-day boot camp held on May 19–20, 2026 at the Grand Summit Hotel in General Santos City, with support from the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) and funding from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

The training brought together 23 participants from Barira, Buldon, Matanog, and Parang, including IT personnel, planning staff, tourism officers, documentation writers, and members of the IDC Alliance Management Office (AMO).

Sessions covered news writing, newsgathering and interviewing, copyediting, photo documentation, publication management, and website administration to improve how the IDC documents and communicates its programs.

The activity also established the IDC’s first editorial board for its planned publication. Saipona Zaman, IDC Executive Director, was named editor-in-chief, with associate editors assigned per municipality and section heads designated for news, features, editorial, layout, and media management.

Participants also designated a web manager and assistant web manager to oversee the development, maintenance, and content management of the IDC website, strengthening the alliance’s digital communications system.

During the workshop, participants discussed possible titles for the planned publication, subject to further review and approval, reflecting the shared identity and collective voice of communities across the Iranun corridor.

Organizers said the activity forms part of broader efforts to institutionalize communication systems within the IDC and strengthen coordination among member municipalities.

The IDC is an interlocal alliance of municipalities in the Iranun corridor that implements programs in peacebuilding, governance, tourism, and local economic development.