Cebu hosts Asean info summit

• Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2016/03/13/cebu-hosts-asean-info-summit-462428
• Sunday, March 13, 2016

By Elias O. Baquero

CEBU will host the Asean Ministers for Responsible Information (AMRI) meeting and the Senior Officials for Responsible Information (SOMRI) meeting from March 14 to 18.

Fayette Riñen of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) said the SOMRI meeting is within the undersecretary level from March 14-16 to be followed by AMRI, the secretary or minister level meeting.

Whatever will be discussed by SOMRI will be finalized by AMRI.

AMRI is chaired by Secretary Sonny Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), while SOMRI is chaired by PCOO Undersecretary Jess Anthony Yu.

Riñen said that over 100 delegates from 10 countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), namely, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Singapore.

Three dialogue partners identified as Japan, South Korea and China, which are considered economically advanced countries, are expected to attend the five-day event.

Aside from Yu, the other main panelists in the SOMRI, from March 14-16, are Tito Cruz of the Philippine Broadcasting Services and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza.

Communication

In a press statement, the information ministers/secretaries of the 10 member-countries underscored the need to accelerate the efforts to communicate Asean and its benefits as the envisioned One Asean Community by 2015 will soon be realized.

In the 12th AMRI Conference last June 12, 2015 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, the ministers signed the Declaration on Socially Responsible Media for a Peaceful and Prosperous Community to affirm their commitment to further strengthen cooperation in information and media programs and activities to bring about a heightened awareness and deeper understanding of Asean.

The ministers also noted the initiatives that have already been undertaken by the Member Nations in support of Asean awareness and community building, including television and radio news exchanges and the Asean Quiz.

They also welcomed the initiatives towards the adoption of digital broadcasting by the Member States.

The press stated further stated that the information ministers, likewise, highlighted the need to maximize the use of all forms of media, from the traditional and mainstream to the new or social media, to inform the widest public possible of the benefits of Asean integration.

Networking

In the June 12, 2015 meeting, the ministers further resolved to enjoin the engagement of various sectors, including Asean dialogue partners like China, Japan and Korea in making Asean a truly one community.

Among the possible discussion in the AMRI and SOMRI in Cebu are joint production projects, media networking, and human resource development.