Organizers: APEC Can Boost Economy, Bring in More Jobs

“APEC Summit 2015 provides opportunities to boost Cebu’s economy.”

Local organizers of the Cebu hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2015 emphasized this during a press conference organized by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7.

“Eighty percent of trade dealings of the Philippines, both import and export, are with APEC member-economies,” revealed Cebu Provincial Information Officer Ethel Natera.

Organizers see this hosting as perfect venue to showcase and promote Cebu.

“If we can convince other economies (countries) that Cebu has a good and pleasurable business environment, then they’d be interested to put up their businesses here. And more businesses mean more jobs for Cebuanos,” Natera explained.

Cebu Province will host some of the APEC Summit 2015 meetings, including the third senior officials’ meeting from August to October this year.

About 3,200 foreign delegates are expected to participate with families and staff.

Aside from the meetings, delegates with their families and companions are also expected to go on sight-seeing and buying spree while in the province.

“We have to see beyond what is now. This is for our future,” expressed Natera.

The Cebu Provincial Government heads the APEC local organizing committee in coordination with different government agencies and local government unit (LGU) of the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

DILG 7 Regional Director Rene Burdeos said APEC’s main goal is to achieve and sustain economic growth among member economies.

He added a series of orientations explaining to communities the benefits of the APEC hosting has been ongoing.

Though public awareness is “ongoing and progressing”, Burdeos said more needs to be done.

“To ensure successful hosting, we ask LGUs to help in informing the people on the benefits of APEC. There may be some discomforts, such as traffic re-routing and temporary closure of some roads but these are all just temporary,” he expressed.

Burdeos also implored to the media to help spread good points of APEC hosting to the public so people will understand and be patient with the inconveniences.

Apart from orientations, local organizers continue to beef up security preparations, beautification drives, and traffic and disaster management plans.

www.cebu.gov.ph