Cebu City throws support to Apec summit hosting bid

THE Cebu City Council yesterday threw its support behind the private sector campaign to secure the rights to host the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.

The council approved unanimously a resolution urging President Benigno Aquino III to “consider Cebu City’s plan to host the summit.”

They said the city was well qualified to host the summit that would be attended by 21 heads of states.

The resolution sponsored by incoming Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella stated that Cebu City’s five star hotels can provide the three presidential suites which the Department of Foreign Affairs estimates are needed for the summit.

“In terms of accessibility, the Mactan Cebu Internal Airport in the neighboring Mactan Island assures fast and secure arrival and departure of delegates,” the resolution stated.

Quoting Ambassador Frank Benedicto, Labella said the Cebu City government had yet to formally submit its bid to host the Apec summit. But Labella said the council should already signify their interest to the event.

The local governments of Metro Manila, Cebu, Bacolod, Albay, Iloilo, Clark, Subic, Davao, Boracay and Tagaytay already expressed their interest to host the 2015 summit.

The Cebu APEC steering committee presented their plans before Cabinet Secretary Rene Amendras during the General Membership Meeting of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry last week.

Dondi Joseph, Mega Cebu and Cebu Business Club president said they also asked Almendras to bring the Cabinet’s economic group for a similar briefing in Cebu.

The Apec national organizing committee has yet to decide on a venue for the 2015 summit. Aside from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in 2006, Cebu had hosted several international events including last year’s Ironman Challenge, the Davis Cup, and the recent Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) Conference.

The Apec Cebu Team consists of Ambassador Frank Benedicto, Dondi Joseph of the Cebu Business Club, and Lilu Alino of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce.

They already started preparations for the summit’s security and emergency framework, which includes contingency measures for natural disasters, utilities interruptions, terrorist attacks, and medical emergencies.

They are also expediting construction of new roads, a citywide beautification program and even secured a sponsorship deal with BMW to provide VIP limousines throughout the duration of the summit. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac