A leader of the House of Representatives said the government has made the necessary preparations to accommodate some 7,000 visitors who are expected to flock to the Philippines during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Meeting in Manila next month.
Vice Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and Liberal Party Rep. Dakila Carlo E. Cua of Quirino, who defended the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) P3.5-billion budget for 2016, said the agency made the assurance that the Philippines is ready for the Apec meet on November 18 and 19.
Cua made the pronouncement in response to the query of Party-list Rep. Jonathan A. de la Cruz of Abakada during the DOT budget deliberations in the plenary.
“Such event will have approximately 7,000 visitors,” Cua said.
With such huge number of visitors coming, de la Cruz asked DOT officials if the government is ready to accommodate all 7,000 Apec guests arriving next month. “Are there enough rooms that meet international standards for the 7,000 expected visitors?”
Citing Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr., Cua said there had been 28 Apec conferences held in the country so far, and each event had an average of 500 participants.
Earlier, the Palace declared November 18 and 19 as special non-working days in the National Capital Region for the Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting, which will be attended by 21 world leaders.
Apec is a regional economic forum established to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia Pacific.
Meanwhile, de la Cruz urged the DOT to conduct a feasibility study on the country hosting world pool events in the country and other sports events on a regular basis to attract more tourists to come to the Philippines.
He said the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) is in the best position to undertake such activities. On the other hand, Cua said Jimenez had asked the TPB to conduct a feasibility study on the matter.
Meanwhile, of the P3.588-billion proposed DOT budget for 2016, P2.746 billion shall go to maintenance and other operating expenses, P465.1 million to capital outlays, P374.7 million to personnel services and P1.5 million to financial expenses.