CEBU CITY, Nov. 12 (PNA) — Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III Wednesday said the province is also ready to serve as alternate venue for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit heads of state meeting in December 2015.
The APEC Summit leaders meeting was primarily set in Legazpi City, Albay.
It was earlier reported that Cebu has been chosen as alternate venue for the APEC senior officials meeting as the threat of eruption of Mayon Volcano may disrupt the event.
Davide also said Cebu is now prepared to host a series of ministerial meetings as part of the APEC Summit in the country next year.
Cebu Provincial Tourism Officer Grace Paulino said the province has already checked the hotels and resorts where the delegates will be billeted, as well as the venues of the ministerial meetings, and everything is found to be satisfactory.
The APEC member-countries’ finance ministers will have their meetings in September 2015, while the energy and transportation ministers will have theirs in October next year.
Davide said preliminary meetings with the private sector and concerned government agencies were already conducted.
Sixty employees from the Cebu Capitol, Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City who would serve as guides of APEC delegates were also made to undergo training at the Foreign Service Institute.
The Philippines, an APEC member for the past 25 years, last hosted an APEC summit in 1996 during the term of then president Fidel V. Ramos.
It was held in Manila and at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. (PNA)