Ad Congress site moved from Baguio to Subic

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines  — It’s final. Organizers of the Philippine Advertising Congress have decided to hold the event in Subic in Zambales instead of in Baguio City.

Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said yesterday that the AdCon board has decided to drop Baguio City and chose Subic instead to host the biggest event in Philippine advertising.

Bautista lamented that the “devastation” in the Cordilleras has been driving away business opportunities. Many organizers of conventions in the city had already called in “to cancel their reservations”, the mayor admitted.

For instance, a convention this October of Filipino physicians had been cancelled. And the advertising congress which the city is supposed to host is not going to happen.

Bautista said the problem is not Baguio. He said organizer are worried about the “personal safety” of participants considering the condition of the roads.

Except for Halsema Highway, the major route servicing Northern Benguet, the major roads going up to the city have been offered to motorists. These include Kennon Road, Marcos Highway and Naguillan Road.

“The city and tourism structures had not been affected,” Bautista pointed out.

The cancellation, said Baguio Conventions and Visitors Bureau chief Anthony de Leon, manager of the posh Baguio Country Club, means the loss of “over a hundred millions in revenue for the city.” This, aside from the trickle down effect on businesses in Baguio, De Leon said.