RP mulls Davao as venue of next Asean meet

The Philippines is considering holding the 40th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Davao City to present Mindanao in a better light before the international community despite the undesirable travel advisories issued by foreign governments about Mindanao.

The United States, China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Australia, European Union and North Korea will attend the ARF.

As the sitting ASEAN and ARF chair, the Philippines wants to use the opportunity presented by these regional fora to debunk the international community’s negative perception of Mindanao by hosting the ARF on Aug. 2.

Mindanao has regularly been cited in the travel advisories of various nations as one of the target areas for terrorist attack.

The government has also been engaged in war with Muslim secessionist and extremist groups there for over three decades, mostly in the archipelago of Sulu and Central Mindanao.

"Davao City is being considered by Malacañang. It’s the first choice as venue," a source said Saturday.

Sources said Davao City is acceptable to the US as venue of the meeting.

But the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is apprehensive of Malacañang’s plans because the city does not have a convention center and facilities for big international gatherings.

Sources also said Malacañang is eyeing the Pearl Farm resort as a venue of the AMM and ARF. — Pia Lee-Brago