For 2015 APEC Validation of 3 potential venues set

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — An inspection team from the Asia Pacific Economic Council (APEC) will be in the region this month to validate the three potential venues for the APEC Ministerial Meetings in 2015.

Department of Tourism-6 regional director Helen Catalbas said the team will visit first Boracay Island in Aklan on August 18, then Iloilo City on August 28 and Negros Occidental on August 29.

Catalbas said the team will inspect all the potential venues and its facilities including soon to be constructed hotels, restaurants, convention centers, roads, malls and other amenities if these are conducive to hold a large number of international delegates.

“What they see here will be recorded and they could recommend if there is a need to upgrade our facilities just to comply with the international standard,” Catalbas said.

Besides these three potential venues, the team will also visit seven other areas, included in the pre-qualified venues, namely Cebu City, Davao City, Clark in Subic, the National Capital Region, Puerto Princesa in Palawan and Albay in the Bicol Region.

The APEC meeting will be participated by 23 countries in Asia with an estimated 5,000 delegates consisting of foreign ministers and their staff working in tourism, finance, health, business and education aspects.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog told The Freeman that he was very optimistic that Iloilo will realize its dream to host the international event.

Iloilo City is now preparing for the availability of more hotel rooms, in addition to its current number of 2,080, as well as shopping malls, hospitals, airlines and convention center, said Mabilog, adding that there are now five big hotels under construction in the city with the expected completion before 2015.

“The APEC convention will be a big opportunity for Iloilo City that we could not just let it away. This is our opportunity to boast our city and invite investors to come here and invest their money,” Mabilog added. — (FREEMAN)