Massive Information for Asean Integration

Echoes From

BY JOHNNY DAYANG

 

There really exists an urgent need for massive information campaign as we prepare to embrace the imminent establishment of the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Economic Community (AEC) next year.

The information drive, being spearheaded by concerned government agencies, could be ably supported by some initiatives from the private sectors.

If properly motivated, I am sure some knowledgeable sectors of the citizenry, could replicate what was started by former Congressman Allen Salas Quimpo of Aklan. Through the Northwestern Visayan Colleges (NVC), a leading educational institution in central Philippines, which he heads as a president, Quimpo conducted seminar-workshop on Asean Integration with the assistance of DTI Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal, Jr. 

With that project, the interest of the Visayas region was awakened. Even the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan is looking into the possibility of creating a body to promote Asean Integration in 2015.

The provincial press
The provincial press, comprising hundreds of newspapers, magazines, radio, television stations, and social media should be mobilized, in cooperation with different institutions, like schools, business chambers, barangays, local governments, student councils, and members of the academe.

With its dynamic labor force, Asean has attracted $128.4 billion in direct foreign investments in 2013, even higher than China’s $177.6 billion. Asean has a combined gross domestic product of $2 trillion and 600 – million strong consumer market base.

Last year, Asean member – countries attracted more tourists than France, the world’s number one tourist destination. Boracay island, the country’s premier tourist destination should prepare for the advent of tourism potential of Asean.

Printing industry preparing for Asean Integration
The printing industry, under the leadership of lawyer Dominador D. Buhan, president of the Philippine Printing Technical Foundation (PPTF) and concurrently chairman of the Printing Industry Board Foundation, Inc. (PIBFI), in association with Dr. Paterno V. Viloria, president of the Small Enterprise Research and Development Foundation of the Philippines (SERDEF) and the University of the Philippines Institute for Small – Scale Industries (UPISSI) Director Nestor Raneses are setting up a seminar to brace up for the challenges and opportunities of the 2015 Asean Integrated Community on June 25, 2014 at UP-ISSI, U.P. Campus, Diliman, Quezon City. 

Some 150 members of Philippine printing and allied industries are invited to attend. Those interested to attend may call tel. 740-26-98 or fax 713-09-05.