The Philippine Information Agency’s (PIA) Information Text board, a partnership between the PIA, the National Telecommunications Commission, and mobile networks Globe and Smart Communications, was officially launched last Wednesday, February 1, 2012, corresponding with PIA’s 25th anniversary.

According to PIA Director-General Jose Fabia, this project provides a government text messaging system to disseminate presidential pronouncements, information on government programs, updates on weather and disaster situations, and other news advisories. One text can reach 100,000 recipients per province nationwide.

The event was graced by President Benigno S. Aquino III where he sent the first text message via the text blast system.