Gov. Edgar Chatto declared that Bohol is ready to accept another ASEAN hosting proposal, even involving a larger crowd.

Chatto confirmed that the National Organizing Committee for the ASEAN Summit had communicated to get the sentiment of Bohol as to the possibility of another ASEAN hosting in July.

Members of the NOC have also commented on how impressed they were on Bohol’s hosting of the recent ASEAN meeting of the Intersessional Regional Economic Partnership Trade Negotiating Committee (ISSL-RCEP TNC) on April 19-21 at Hennan Resort in Panglao.

Chatto said he was informed that the coordination with the Bohol team had been smooth, and also with the coordination within the local circule.

“The impression is very encouraging. The NOC called me and asked if Bohol is still willing to host another ASEAN meeting before the November ASEAN Summit of the heads of states in Manila. I responded that they will just have to inform us when there is already a final proposal so we can also activate our local organizing committee,” Chatto said.

He said Bohol will not refuse to accept any challenge.

The ISSL-RCEP TNC meeting only involved 200 delegates, but the upcoming Summit slated in July or August will involve 400 delegates.

Chatto said that while it is not yet official that Bohol will host the ASEAN meeting in July or August, Bohol is always ready for the big event.

Chatto had earlier said the province had to grab the opportunity of hosting the ASEAN meeting on April 19-21 because it was Bohol’s entry point to stronger relationships with the nations around the Philippines.

This is especially that on July 22, the Philippine Airlines will open daily direct flights from South Korea to Bohol”.

Bohol will also open more doors when the New Bohol Airport in Panglao starts operation next year, and with the upcoming completion of the cruise ship port in Loon.

“The hosting of the ASEAN meeting is significant as Bohol is opening doors and interdependence in the global community starts with ASEAN. In a sense, that is our trajectory,” according to Chatto.

He explained that when the new airport opens next year, the ASEAN will be the direct connections of Bohol.

Chatto recognized the interdependent relations of nations and the three pillars of the ASEAN Community serve as guide- -political-security community, economic community, and socio-cultural community- -include the aim to give opportunities for the poorer sectors of society in the Southeast Asian nations,” Chatto explained.

“The ASEAN economic community aims to establish a highly competitive region competitive region with equitable economic development and reduced poverty and socio-economic disparities.”

Among the aims and purposed of ASEAN is to “provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres; and to collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of their agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of international commodity trade, the improvement of their transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of their peoples”.