蜜桃工作室

The first event to be hosted by the Philippines for next year鈥檚 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit has hit a snag.

Organizers have decided to move the Informal Senior Officials鈥� Meeting (Isom) to Manila from Legazpi City in Albay province, which is expected to be hit by Typhoon 鈥淩uby鈥� (international name: Hagupit).

The Isom will still be held on Dec. 8 and 9 but at a Manila venue to be announced later.

Administrator Alexander Pama of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said earlier on Wednesday that he would recommend the postponement of the meeting.

鈥淧rudence dictates that we be cautious. Based on the weather situation, let鈥檚 not put our guests in danger,鈥� Pama told reporters.

Ruby has drawn comparisons with Supertyphoon 鈥淵olanda鈥� (international name: Haiyan) mainly because it is expected to hit central Philippines, more than a year after the region was devastated by the strongest storm on record.

The Isom is expected to draw around 400 participants, including 31 speakers.

Delegates鈥� safety

鈥淲hile this is highly unfortunate, we have deemed it best to err on the side of prudence and ensure the safety of the delegates,鈥� Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said in a statement Wednesday night.

Ochoa said moving the location would allow Albay to 鈥渇ocus on the necessary actions to be taken in light of the coming typhoon.鈥�

鈥淚 wish to assure everyone that contingencies are in place. The government is ensuring that the rest of the activities push through, and is making preparations for the coming typhoon,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e are united in ensuring the safety and comfort of all delegates,鈥� Ochoa said. 鈥淲e are likewise conscious of our abiding obligation to ensure that all steps are taken to prepare for the typhoon.鈥�

Sad turn of events

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said he was saddened by this turn of events, but stressed that he understood why the Isom had to be transferred to Manila.

鈥淲e have decided to transfer the venue to Manila. I am sorry about this but I understand [why it has to be done]. There will be other events,鈥� Salceda said.

Albay had been preparing for the Isom for a year, and spent P18 million to spruce up Legazpi City, especially the city鈥檚 airport and the Albay Astrodome, where a welcome dinner for the delegates had been planned.

Isom鈥檚 opening day will have seven sessions tackling key objectives such as achieving inclusive growth within the Asia-Pacific region.

One session will discuss 鈥減otential areas of cooperation and collaboration that will mutually benefit both developed and developing economies.鈥�

A session on regional economic integration and inclusive growth will discuss 鈥渉ow across-the-border, at-the-border and behind-the-border issues continue to define 21st-century trade.鈥�

Another discussion will cover small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and how they could 鈥渢ake advantage of cross-border business opportunities.鈥�

听

鈥業nclusive growth鈥�

During the official launch of the Philippines鈥� hosting of Apec 2015 on Monday, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo cited the importance creating jobs through SMEs.

鈥淭o achieve inclusive growth, it is imperative that our SMEs must be competitive and be able to participate in global value chains,鈥� he said in a speech.

鈥淔or Filipino SMEs to succeed internationally, they need access to open, transparent, and efficient markets,鈥� he said.

Domingo invited the private sector to join the government in an 鈥渆xtraordinary partnership.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檇 just like to make it perfectly clear. For the Philippines, there is nothing ordinary about 2015. The year 2015 is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase to the world what the Philippines has to offer,鈥� he said.

Aside from Legazpi and Manila, Boracay, Clark, Bagac, Bacolod, Iloilo, Tagaytay, and Cebu will also host Apec events. With reports from Dona Z. Pazzibugan in Manila and Michael Jaucian and Ma. April Mier, Inquirer Southern Luzon

RELATED STORIES

听

Aquino brings big group to see how China does Apec