Monday, October 15, 2007 Region set to host Eaga ministers meet By Carlo P. Mallo
DEPARTMENT of Tourism-Southern Mindanao Director Sonia Garcia is more than excited as Davao City plays host again to another international event at the end of the month, the ministerial meeting of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (Eaga) sub-region.
"It would be an opportune time to showcase the bounty of the region," Garcia said in an interview Friday. Garcia also expressed that the city is more than prepared for the event, which is to be attended by top officials from its member countries as well as its partner countries such as Singapore, China, Korea, and Japan.
Meanwhile, South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said the key to Eaga's growth is local government units.
"Economically, it (Eaga) is not viable," Avance-Fuentes said, but if LGUs put their forces together and focus on security concerns and tourism, then they can reap the benefits from this sub-grouping.
She added that there must be a venue for local government units to converse with their counterparts in the member countries. "There should be some forum wherein we can talk without formalities," Avance-Fuentes said.
