Recognizing the power of the mass media to disseminate crucial news and information to target audiences worldwide, officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) have urged for greater partnership between managers of economic zones and media networks in the Asia-Pacific Region.
SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga and SBMA administrator Armand Arreza issued this call as about 40 executives representing 14 members and five affiliates of the AsiaNet news network met here at The Lighthouse Marina Resort on January 11-12 for the Sixth AsiaNet Forum.
The participants included representatives from Australian Associated Press (AAP), United News of Bangladesh, China’s Xinhua News Agency, Hong Kong’s New China News (NCN), Press Trust of India (PTI), Indonesia’s Antara News Agency, Japan’s Kyodo News JBN, Bernama News Agency of Malaysia and Singapore, New Zealand Press Association (NZPA), Pakistan Press International (PPI), Philippines News Agency (PNA), South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, Thailand’s InfoQuest, and Vietnam News Agency.
Representatives from the network’s global affiliates PR Newswire USA, PR Newswire Europe, Canada’s CNW Group, and Germany’s News Aktuell, also joined the forum.
According to Salonga, AsiaNet represents virtually all the leading news wire organizations in the Asia Pacific Region today and could play a big part in promoting local economies like the Subic Bay Freeport.
“As a significant force not only for the dissemination of news and information, but also for the promotion of truth, enlightenment, education and empowerment, AsiaNet could help us disseminate the information that, yes, we’re already making maritime history here in Subic — and also making big strides in the electronics sector, as well as tourism,” Salonga added.
Arreza, on the other hand, stressed that the “virtual treasure trove of news and statistics that the members and affiliates of AsiaNet routinely handle and deliver, gains more importance and significance in this age of globalization.”
He added that the SBMA and its business locators have gained “the unequalled advantage” of being able to promote their policies, programs and projects through the assiduous monitoring and reporting of Subic events by the Philippines News Agency (PNA), which is a member of the AsiaNet.
Arreza also said that through PNA and AsiaNet, the SBMA’s media reach has “become global and instantaneous,” with news about the free port reaching as far as Australia, United States, China, Japan and Germany within a few hours.
With this global reach, Arreza said, AsiaNet’s support and assistance would be a big help in promoting Subic, highlighting its distinct advantages, and generating the attention of global investors.
AsiaNet, which was founded 15 years ago, now delivers full text and unedited releases and images to over 5,000 media outlets in 34 countries and regions across Asia and the Pacific, said Secretary Conrado Limcaoco Jr., director general of the Philippine Information Agency and supervising secretary of the PNA.
The network “offers a direct link between Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world,” he added.
Limcaoco also said the hosting of the AsiaNet Forum in Subic “augurs well for the Philippines, as this will tremendously help our country strengthen its global economic network.” (SBMA Corporate Communications)
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