1Bataan reaches 142 countries

BAGAC, Bataan – Provincial Information Officer (PIO) head, Geoff Loyola said the provincial government is challenged to reach more people across the globe and promote their vision of being the country’s preferred location for eco-industrial investments by year 2020. This as APEC fiscal experts lauded the province for utilizing the power of information in creating a transparent governance.

The province has been maximizing the vast grasp of internet connectivity and social media through its 1Bataan portal in which posted are all the activities of the provincial government, as well as financial reports. “The symbol of 1Bataan is not only about information but also unity of Bataeños towards the achievement of the province’s vision,” provincial information officer Geoff Loyola said.

Rising up to the challenge of international experts on capitalizing the power of information to foster good governance, the provincial government of Bataan averred that it has been able to reach out to 142 countries in sharing the splendor of the evolving peninsula. The 1Bataan portal, composed of wide networks that include the didactic website www.1Bataan.com, has connected to people in big countries and garnered over 145,000 views since its start on January 2014.

The top 10 visiting countries in the interactive and user-friendly website of www.1Bataan.com include Philippines, USA, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Singapore, Qatar, Australia, India, and United Kingdom. According to provincial information officer Geoff Loyola, this proved that the said online portal helps facilitate connectivity among Bataeños locally and worldwide.

In related developments:
Governor Albert Garcia hosted a dinner, dubbed “Pamana” for APEC delegates at the Plaza Belmonte, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in this town. After the warm welcome of Gov. Garcia, cultural presentations of homegrown indigenous choir Koro Bangkal-Magbikin, teen singer Shanne Velasco, internationally awarded BPSU Chamber Singers, PUP’s Pangkat Kawayan and Asia’s Got Talent champion El Gamma Penumbra followed.

“You have such a beautiful place. We never knew! Thank you Governor Albert for hosting us very well.” This was the statement of Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran during the Governor’s Night .

A global expert on fiscal management lauded the province of Bataan and said it is a regional leader in the extensive use of information for promoting fiscal transparency. “I’m very delighted to hear that Bataan is recognized with awards on fiscal transparency. Bataan is a leader on this,” said Richard Parry, head of Global Relations of the Centre for Tax Policy and Administration of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

“APEC is the culmination of this humble municipality’s dream to be global.” This was the inspiring statement of Bagac Mayor Ramil Del Rosario during the opening of one of the two APEC events in Bataan, the Workshop on Fiscal Management through Transparency and Reforms. He said the gathering of these financial luminaries will open the floodgates of opportunities for mountainous Bagac town not only in the Philippines but to the entire Asia Pacific Region as well.