Palace respects Chile in cancelling 2019 APEC

BANGKOK – While acknowledging the importance of the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) Leaders Meeting, Malacañang has expressed support for Chile’s decision to cancel its hosting of the event set for Nov.16 to 17, due to raging unrest in the South American country.

Chile has issued an advisory cancelling the event as President Sebastián Piñera expanded the state of emergency outside the capital Santiago.

“The Office of the President therefore expresses the country’s support for Chile as it made the hard decision of cancelling its hosting of the APEC, taking into consideration the interest and concerns of the Chilean people, as its country endured massive street protests that was propelled by a civil disobedience campaign over metro transit hikes,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said yesterday.

Malacañang also expressed its gratitude to Chile for giving protection to an estimated 800 Filipinos working in the country.

“We will continue to work to ensure our peoples enjoy the benefits of deeper regional economic integration,” Panelo said.

Duterte had earlier confirmed that he would attend the meetings and join 20 other heads of economies within APEC to discuss trade and investment issues, as well as common efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable development.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez had also conveyed their intention to participate in the event.

Underscoring the significance of the APEC meet, the Palace said most of the economic and commercial transactions of the Philippines are with economies belonging to APEC.

In particular, Panelo said these transactions account for 84 percent of the total trade of the Philippines worldwide.

APEC economies likewise account for 64 percent of foreign direct investment in the Philippines and 83 percent of tourist arrivals.