City to bid for Apec Summit

DAVAO City, known as the most livable city in Asia, has been shortlisted to host some of the events of the upcoming 23rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in 2015 in the Philippines.

In an interview, City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) chief Robert Alabado told reporters that the City Government of Davao is set to submit a proposal to the Apec National Organizing Council.

In a report, Apec-NOC was created by President Benigno Aquino III by virtue of Administrative Order 36 to oversee and ensure the success of the Apec 2015 to be attended by 21 countries within Asia-Pacific region.

Earlier, the Apec-NOC secretariat asked the City Government to submit a letter of intent if it wants to bid for the hosting of some Apec 2015 events.

"Naka-agi na sila dire og naghimo na of preliminary assessment sa Davao (They visited the city already and made preliminary assessment on Davao)," he said.

Along with Davao, eight other cities are shortlisted as potential sites to host senior official meetings (SOMs) and sectorial ministerial meetings: these are Metro Manila, Tagaytay, Clark, Subic, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Boracay.

"Maghatag ta og written expression of interest. As a local government unit (LGU), kaya nato (We will send a written expression of interest. As a local government unit, we can host such events)," he said.

This, however, will go through a selection process, according to Alabado.

The criteria for the selection of host cities include facilities and infrastructures, including airport, roads, hotels, and convention space, and security and public safety.

Others include risk assessment and disaster preparedness plan, power and water availability, and medical services.

Last week, March 13, a briefing on Apec hosting requirements was conducted while the pitch date is slated last week of May 2013.

For the entire duration of 23rd Apec Summit, there will be eight SMMs and five SOMs, each meeting will run for about two to three days.

The results on which cities win a hosting right either for SOCs or SMMs will come out in the first week of June 2013.

The SOMs is expected to draw about 900 to 1,400 delegates from different countries in Asia-Pacific region while SMMs 500 delegates.