USM Hosts DDOSC Public Information Unit for Branding and Communication Benchmarking

As the year begins, the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), through its Public Relations and Information Office (UPRIO), welcomed the Public Information Unit (PIU) of Davao de Oro State College (DDOSC) for a benchmarking visit on January 8, 2025, at the Office of the President, Administration Building, USM, Kabacan, Cotabato.

The visit aimed to provide DDOSC-PIU with a closer look at USM’s institutional branding and communication practices. Discussions focused on visual identity guidelines, including logo usage, publication materials, color standards, and other official communication materials used by the university.

Leading the DDOSC delegation was PIU Head Khif Muamar M. Miranda, joined by Chealsen Nicole A. Perral, Ron Gerard A. Celada, and Phel Mar. B. Padoña.

During the session, Carl Waron M. Baldesimo presented USM’s visual identity guidelines, explaining how branding standards are applied consistently across publication materials and official platforms. He also shared insights on maintaining a unified look and message for the university.

Charlotte Andrea D. Tutor discussed the workflow of the UPRIO, particularly its role in managing the university website. She emphasized the importance given by the university to its website as an official information platform, especially in publishing news, announcements, and other institutional updates before sharing them on social media.

Miranda shared that DDOSC is currently focusing on strengthening its Facebook presence and plans to give greater attention to website development in the future. The DDOSC team expressed appreciation for the ideas and practices shared during the benchmarking, noting that the discussions provided useful guidance for improving their own information and communication strategies.

Loynei F. Sumalinog also shared the UPRIO’s preparations and coordination involved in producing same-day edit newsletters. He explained how the team ensures timely content gathering, photo selection, writing, editing, and posting, particularly during major university events. He highlighted the importance of teamwork, clear task assignments, and fast decision-making to deliver accurate and prompt information to the public.

Also present during the activity were Aljamil U. Kamsa and Cherelen F. Escojedo of the UPRIO, who assisted in the discussions and exchange of ideas.

The benchmarking visit allowed both institutions to exchange practical experiences in public information work and strengthened professional connections between their communication teams, supporting continued learning and improvement in institutional communication practices.