Cebu can host all Apec meetings, Rama says

CEBU is willing and able to host more, if not all, of the meetings during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit to be held in the country next year.

“I told the organizers that Cebu City and the rest of Cebu will be willing, if there is a change of heart, to handle all meetings. As long as there is help from the national government,” Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said yesterday.

A team from the Office of the Director-General (ODG) of the Apec 2015 national organizing committee, headed by Ambassador Ma. Angelina Sta. Catalina paid a courtesy call on Rama last Thursday afternoon.

The team visited mostly hotels in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu which may host some of the meetings of the global economic event.
Sta. Catalina, also deputy general for Apec’s conference management and services, said Cebu may host four to six meetings during the summit but declined to mention specifics.

Partnership

She said everything will be decided by the Apec national organizing council after the team submits its assessment of their visits to different parts of the country.
Cebu’s edge, Rama said, is the “synergy” between its different cities and municipalities.

“There is no problem with the current political temperature in Cebu. Under the auspices of Mega Cebu, there are no jealousies, idiosyncrasies. We can synergize – Talisay City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, even the province and towns,” he said.

Rama said Cebu is more conducive and prepared for the Apec meetings  with Cebu City hosting the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016.
Cebu also hosted the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in 2007.

The Department of Public Works and Highways also announced earlier that they have earmarked P158 million for road restoration projects in tourist areas in the city in partnership with the Department of Tourism. Correspondent Jose Santino S. Bunachita