FIVE meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) 2017 will be hosted by Iloilo City.
According to the City Tourism and Development Office, the National Organizing Council (NOC) has set a coordination meeting with the City Government and ocular visits in Iloilo City recently.
The meetings that will be convened by various lead government agencies, attended by high-level delegates like ministers and senior officials.
The City Hall will help NOC determine the possible engagement sites and specific arrangements for the Asean meetings like airport facilities, hotel accommodation, conference venues, and tourism destinations.
Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said this news manifests the growing reputation of Iloilo City as ideal convention destination.
He also encouraged everyone to support the preparations of the city for the hosting of the 2017 Asean meetings.
Last September, it was in Laos that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte formally accepted the chairmanship of the Asean 2017, which is, coincidentally, the regional organization’s 50th anniversary.
The theme for Asean 2017, “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World”, captures the resolve to consolidate our community for our peoples, with a sense of togetherness and common identity, ready and able to take our rightful place in the global community of nations.
Mabilog said during the Philippines’ chairmanship, the country will highlight Asean as a model of regionalism and a global player with the interests of our peoples at its core.
He added he will pursue initiatives and enhance cooperation with global partners to ensure that Asean citizens live in peace, stability, security and growth, while maintaining Asean centrality, unity, and solidarity for all times.
Asean is composed of 10 member-countries including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. (PIA)