3rd PIA ASEAN info-kiosk serves

10,000 Tubigon port commuters

TUBIGON, Bohol, September 18 (PIA)--Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto led an inter-agency cooperating in spreading out more information about the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in opening up an information database about the ten country bloc at the port of Tubigon, September 14. 

The governor and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) with Tagbilaran Port Manager Engr James Gantalao and Tubigon Port Engr. Yolando Ponce with the Philippine Information Agency and Mayor William R. Jao cut the ceremonial ribbon opening Bohol's third Information Kiosk dedicated to the spread of information about the 10-nation bloc here in Asia. 

This as the Philippines hosts this year's 50th founding anniversary of the ASEAN amidst claims that there is a need for more information about the ASEAN and it benefits cascading to the Bohol communities. 

It may be recalled that PIA in Bohol along with the PPA launched the second ASEAN-PIA Information Kiosk at the Port of Tagbilaran a few hours after the PIA, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) also opened the Tagbilaran City Airport Information Kiosk in March of this year. 

The port of Tubigon is one of the fastest ports in Bohol in terms of traffic, movement of people, goods and services and it is just right for the port to have one kiosk so everyone will understand the ASEAN and how it will impact on the lives of ordinary people, Governor Chatto bared. 

Tubigon Mayor William Jao said the port services about 5,000 to 10,000 commuters every day who could actually benefit and get information from the ASEAN kiosk. 

Incidentally, because Bohol is a tourism island and identifies tourism as among its engines for development, the kiosk also shows tourist spots in Bohol, one which can help the towns in promoting their tourism products. 

Gov. Chatto said the opening of the Tubigon Information Kiosk is part of the information build-up for our preparations of the 50th hosting of the Philippines for the ASEAN Summit this November. 

The governor who was also expected to be in Tagbilaran for a meeting the same time he was giving the statement of support to the kiosk launch, said a big ASEAN coordination meeting at the PPA in Tagbilaran is set to ensure a safe, happy and memorable hosting in Bohol. 

Bohol again, hosts the ASEAN Maritime Security Technical Working Group meeting in Panglao from September 19-21, the third international conference held in Bohol this year, according to the governor. 

The ASEAN Maritime agencies and ministers of the 10 ASEAN nations, about 200 of them would sail to Bohol within the week to attend the meetings. 

Last August, the ASEAN also held its Asian Cooperation Dialog (ACD) with 34 other countries in Panglao. 

The governor also hinted another ASEAN conference in October, this time with the top finance ministers of the 10 countries, as he highlighted Bohol as being gracious hosts during the past gabs. 

He also urged Boholanos to be special hosts for the national and international guests for the conferences even as he also engaged people into making good use of the kiosks to better understand the help ASEAN can give to people. 

"Avail the kiosk facilities as it will give you and your children a better picture of where we are as far as the global and ASEAN trend of growth and development," he urged. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)