THE QUESTION IS: “How do we position Bohol in this fast-growing technological world?”

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) Chief Strategy Officer Winston Damarillo and colleagues personally brought the good news to Gov. Edgar M. Chatto that the World Economic Forum would be bringing over to Bohol the Open Collaboration of East Asian Nations (OCEAN) 16.

This global event which is to be staged in Bohol is slated to happen on October 21 and 22.

This year’s major theme is Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The World Economic Forum is a not-for-profit international organization with a commitment for improving the state of the world through business, academia, politics and society leaders.

Delegates will be multi-nationals although some would be coming from Southeast Asia.

After all the planning, preparations, all the world-class global activities, such as Geeks on a Beach, this August 25 and 26, and the putting up of all the much-needed mechanisms with the right people to man them, advocates guarantee that THE MOMENT one steps down from the plane or disembarks from a sea vessel, one steps right into the magical world of Digital Bohol, where everything is possible with just one click.

OCEAN 16 advocates believe that technology and industrialization can definitely change the world.

Damarillo will be sending their company’s program plan to Gov. Chatto for the Provincial Government, through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, to study on.

He said that partnership with the local chamber, in this case, the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), and all other sectors interested in the latest technologies, would be most appropriate.

Talking about most distinguished guests, representatives from Bloomberg, Facebook, and Rappler are quite expected.

Vice-President Leni Robredo and Senators Bam Aquino and Sonny Angara already gave their nod.

And if Bohol is lucky, perhaps Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez and DENR Secretary Gina Lopez would also be gracing The Birth of Digital Bohol, as duly recognized by the global community. (JLV/PGBh/EDCom)