Iloilo City confirmed as one of APEC 2015 Philippine host cities

IT'S A GO!

Iloilo City's bid to be one of the Philippine host cities for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit meetings next year has been confirmed!

Construction of the ILOILO CONVENTION CENTER at the Iloilo Business Park is in full blast to meet the deadline
Photo courtesy of Vincent Valencia

According to official communications sent to Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. from the government and the organizers, the Iloilo is among among the eight areas approved to host the international summit. Other host cities are Metro Manila, Metro Cebu Bagac in Bataan, Clark in Pampanga, Tagaytay City in Cavite, Boracay in Aklan and Legazpi City in Albay.

Iloilo City will host the Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting from Sept. 21 to 25, 2015, according to a July 22 memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. Around 700 delegates from the 21 APEC economies are expected to attend this gathering. The city will also host the Food Security Week (High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and the Blue Economy and Related Meetings) from Sept. 28 to Oct. 6 next year, with an estimated 900 delegates attending.

Another host in Western Visayas is the popular tourist attraction island of Boracay. It will host the Senior Officials Meeting and Related Meetings from May 10 to 21, 2015, APEC 2015 director-general Marciano A. Paynor Jr. said in a letter to Gov. Florencio Miraflores of Aklan. About 1,900 delegates are expected to attend this meeting.

The world-famous island will also be the venue of the Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting from May 23 to 24, with 600 delegates attending. Paynor said he will lead the first formal advance ocular of Iloilo City and Boracay soon to call on various officials and to visit vital hosting sites.

(With reports from Panay News)

Travelers guide to Iloilo transport terminals (Airport, Jeepneys, Buses, RORO. etc)

Being the biggest city on Panay Island and the center of Western Visayas region, Iloilo City is a transportation hub whether by land, sea or air. These numerous transportation terminals facilitate day to day commerce, light & heavy industries, and tourism, among others. As this is a travel blog, this guide is aimed to tourists who want to experience and explore Iloilo and perhaps even beyond. Iloilo International Airport A little more than five years old, the Iloilo International Airpor t is among the most modern and beautiful in the country today. It is situated around 20 kilometers from Iloilo City , straddling the towns of Cabatuan, San Miguel and Sta. Barbara . It has direct links to Manila, Cebu, Clark, Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Puerto Princesa plus international destinations Hong Kong and Singapore . Among the first hurdles tourists will have to contend is the distance that translates to expensive fare when traveling to and from this airport.

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ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

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