BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
CEBU CITY, June 3 (PIA) -- Preparations are in place for Cebu’s hosting of the three-day information summit of the Regional Association of Development Information Officers (RADIO-7) in Central Visayas starting on June 9-13 that will tackle the agenda on climate change, disaster preparedness and tourism.
Over 70 public information officers from various local government units and regional line agencies in the region as well as city and municipal tourism officers in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor are invited to participate in the 1st Regional Summit.
The Summit carries the theme “Relevant Information: Tool for Sustainable Development in Tourism, Environment and Disaster Preparedness.”
“We are all set and ready to host the 1st Regional Information Summit and the 21st Consultative Conference of RADIO-7,” said Carlo Dugaduga, president of RADIO-7 and likewise the president of the Cebu Association of City and Municipal Public Information Officers (CAOCAMPIO).
Given the two major disasters that struck the region late last year, the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that left Bohol severely devastated with over 200 casualties and hundreds injured and super Typhoon Yolanda which killed over 70 people in north Cebu and thousands of families displaced have made it even more imperative to discuss the specified agenda.
Secretary Sonny Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office will keynote the opening day with a talk on “The Role of PIOs in Disaster Communication.”
Gov. Hilario Davide III will deliver the Inspirational Message while Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will welcome the participants.
Tourism Secretary Ramon Jiminez Jr. will keynote the event on the second day with a talk on “Strengthening Tourism Information through Public Info and Provincial Tourism Officers.”
Other resource speakers include Lapulapu City Mayor Paz Radaza to showcase the ‘Lapulapu Experience’ as a tourism best practice and businessman Jay Aldeguer on ‘Tourism 2014 and Beyond: Business Challenges and Opportunities.”
Participants will also be briefed on maximizing digital media for tourism promotion which will be handled by Max Limpag, business editor of Sun Star Daily on the last day.
Also invited to speak are Sun Star Editor-in-Chief Isolde Amante and Bobby Nalzaro, manager of RGMA-DYSS on “Building Synergies with Print Media” and “The PIOs and the Broadcast Industry: Forging Relationships.” (mbcn/fcr/PIA-7)