World Underwater chief in town to check international meet preparations

MANILA, Philippines - The secretary-general of the Confédération Mondiale Des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) or the World Underwater Federation is in town for an inspection tour to check preparations by the Philippines as host to the Elective General Assembly slated in April 2013.

Alessandro Zerbi, who arrived in Cebu, has had a series of meetings with officials of the Philippine Association on Underwater Activities (PAUA).

Citing the “many beautiful places” in Cebu, the CMAS chief executive also took note of “the professionalism of Filipinos, including the women.”

The Philippines won the bid to host the 13th World Underwater Federation Elective General Assembly 2013 in Cebu, besting three other countries with 40 votes from the delegates who attended the CMAS General Assembly in Rome, Italy.

St. Petersburg, Russia came out second with 32 votes, followed by Mallorca, Spain, with 30 votes and only 23 votes for Rome.

CMAS is known in organizing international underwater sports events, and conducting technical and scientific research development.

Zerbi said CMAS comprises 130 federations from five continents, including PAUA which aims to unify, develop and promote underwater activities in the Philippines.

Last year, PAUA staged the first Asian underwater photography meet in Cebu.