Noy leads APEC hosting kick-off event

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will lead tomorrow’s kick-off ceremony for the country’s hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Makati City, where the logo and theme for the event will be unveiled.

The kick-off ceremony at 5 p.m. will be hosted by government’s partners at the Department of Trade and Industry.

The ceremony comes ahead of the APEC Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (ISOM) at the Oriental Hotel in Legazpi City on Dec. 8 and 9 that will signal the start of the summit.

The Philippines’ hosting of the APEC summit is expected to boost the country’s international exposure next year, along with the visit of Pope Francis in January.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said ISOM would serve as the venue to set the agenda and priorities of the 21 APEC member-economies.

“There are notable speakers who will be coming to discuss how the economies can move forward on the topics that are to be discussed in ISOM,” she said over dzRB.

As regards the government’s overall preparation for the hosting of APEC, Valte said the administration is threshing out small details of the preparations and maintained that they are ready to spearhead the ISOM meeting in Albay.

“The preparations look good and are all set,” Valte said, noting that local government partners led by Albay Gov. Joey Salceda are also on deck.

Participants are expected to arrive next Saturday or Sunday in Legazpi City.

Among the government agencies working for the successful APEC hosting are the Philippine Information Agency of Region 5 and the Department of Tourism.

The country’s hosting of APEC next year is its second after 19 years. The Philippines last hosted APEC in 1996 during the administration of President Fidel Ramos.

“So everyone is really working together to make the start of the hosting a success,” Valte said.