No final date yet for Madrid Fusion Manila

MANILA, Philippines — The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) is waiting to finalize the date of this year’s edition of Madrid Fusion Manila (MFM) before beginning the bidding process for the handler and venue of the event.

“Once we finalize the dates, then we open it up for bidding. That normally takes about two months,” TPB officer-in-charge Maricon Ebron told The Star.

Ebron said Foro de Debate, the organizer of the Madrid Fusion, is targeting to hold the MFM in September, as opposed to the original scheduled date of April 19 to 21.

According to earlier reports, the proposed date is Sept. 25 to 29.

“We are already looking at those final dates, so I think that’s already firm for them (Foro de Debate),” Ebron said.

She added what is not available now is the venue for the event, which was initially planned to be the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Reports of the MFM 2018’s cancellation surfaced earlier this month, as TPB chief operating officer Cesar Montano was quoted as saying the annual event would not push through this year.

Ebron clarified the confusion, saying the delay for this year’s MFM was mainly caused by the transfer of the handling of the event from the Department of Tourism to the TPB in January.

“When it was transfered to us, we thought it was best that we comply with procurement laws and the venues, or the handler, should be bid out,” Ebron said.

The TPB official said in the previous years of the MFM, no bidding process was involved, as the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers Inc. (PACEOS) was in charge of handling the event.

While the TPB has not started the bidding process yet, Ebron said there is no lack of handlers for the event, noting that the PACEOS may also be one of the front-runners for the bid.

In addition, the delay in this year’s MFM was caused by the mismatch in the schedules of the chefs, speakers, and the organizer of the event.

“Apparently from January up to the time that there were exchanges of communication, they (Foro de Debate) were not able to give us a new schedule (for the event) because they also have to consider their availability, the availability of speakers,” Ebron said.