100 Asean Delegates Converge In Cebu March 14-18 For SOMRI, AMRI

Some 100 delegates from the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member countries have converged in Cebu starting Monday, March 14 until March 18 for the Senior Officials for Responsible Information (SOMRI) meeting and the Asean Ministers for Responsible Information (AMRI) meeting.

Fayette Riñen of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 7 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.

The 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.

The ten-member Asean countries include 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.

In a press statement, the information ministers and 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 on 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 statement said the information ministers also 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. (PNA) LAP/EB/PR/EBP