Aquino launches gov’t test blast communication system

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday inaugurated the government’s text blast system meant to spread presidential declarations, disaster warnings, news advisories and relevant information to 100,000 recipients per province.

President Benigno Aquino III

President Aquino sent the first message via the Philippine Information Agency’s text blast facility at rites celebrating the agency’s 25th anniversary.

“With this project we will be text mates of many of our countrymen as regards information they need to know,” the President Aquino said in his speech at the ceremony.

Jose Fabia, director-general of the Philippine Information Agency, said the PIA’s “force multipliers” in the regions are also expected to further spread the text messages to the target audience in their respective areas.

The program, Fabia said, is a public private partnership as it links the PIA, the National Telecommunications Commission with telecommunications giants Globe and Smart.

Text blast messages will be about presidential pronouncements, updates on advisories on weather and disaster situations, government programs and services and news advisories.

The PIA during the ceremonies led the inauguration of the new PIA Web site.