Capitol bid to host Ad Congress not meant to compete with city

CEBU, Philippines - Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said yesterday the move of Capitol to bid for the 2011 Ad Congress is not meant to compete with the city government.

Mayor Michael Rama also announced that the city will bid to host the biggest event in the Philippine advertising industry.

“I hope that this will not be a competition. I would rather that we can compliment each other and let this be a one Cebu bid,” Garcia said in press conference yesterday.

She said that the province is not trying to compete with Cebu City and is happy to “work” with the city in bidding for the Ad Congress.

Cebu hosted the event twice in 2001 and 2005.

Both Garcia and Rama believe hosting the event again would boost Cebu’s economy. Should Cebu get to host the event in November, about 2,500 to 4,000 delegates from top business firms, advertising agencies and media companies will be pouring in money to the local hotel and service industries.

Aside from this, Garcia said the fact that the event will be held here will give prestige to Cebu.

“No amount of media advertising can match that because when the Ad Congress is held here, those that are in the media industry, those that are in the advertising industry, will actually come here and see for themselves just how capable and just how beautiful Cebu is,” she said.

Garcia said Cebu is equipped with the needed infrastructures, convention centers, and hotel rooms. Likewise, there is so much for the delegates to experience like natural heritage, adventure sites, the sea, the mountains and the “incomparable Cebuano hospitality.”

The Ad Congress was held before in the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City with activities and parties spread out in various hotels, resorts and entertainment nightspots.

Should the province get the bid, Garcia said she would offer the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) as the main venue for the event.

The event’s organizers give importance to access and infrastructure. One requirement, for example, is a plenary hall that can accommodate up to 4,000 delegates.

The CICC, which was the main venue of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in 2007, can accommodate at least 3,000 people.

Garcia said the province will send a more specific bid over the weekend in time for the deadline on Monday, January 31. (FREEMAN)