LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 4 (PIA) – With the impending threat of typhoon Ruby (with international name: Hagupit) to the Visayas and Bicol regions, organizers decided Wednesday to transfer the venue of the APEC Informal Senior Officials Meeting (ISOM) from this city to Metro Manila.
In a letter of APEC 2015 National Organizing Council Dir. Gen. Marciano Paynor to Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, he stated that with the unfortunate development brought about by the weather system that may affect the area on the days that coincide with the arrival of delegates here, organizers decided to move the venue to the National Capital Region (NCR).
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) expects the typhoon to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday.
“This is to safeguard the interest of the foreign dignitaries of the APEC economies, as well as the interest of the local organizing hosts,” he said.
Paynor furthered, “We request the kind understanding of the Governor (Salceda) of this decision, and extend our appreciation to him and his team for the excellent support the province of Albay has given for the preparations for the APEC ISOM.”
The APEC ISOM will still be held on December 8 and 9 in Manila venue to be announced later.
“We will be back in Albay on July and September next year for other related events of APEC 2015,” he said.
Meanwhile, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., sharing the same sentiment with the APEC NOC official, stated “while this is highly unfortunate, we have deemed it best to err on the side of prudence and ensure the safety of the delegates.”
Likewise, he furthered, the measure will also afford the local government to focus on the necessary actions to be taken in light of the coming typhoon.
According to Ochoa, the ISOM will proceed as scheduled at alternative venues. I wish to assure everyone that contingencies are in place. The government is ensuring that the rest of the activities push through, and is making preparations for the coming typhoon.
“We thank Governor Joey Sarte Salceda and the people of Albay for their cooperation and understanding. We are united in ensuring the safety and comfort of all delegates; we are likewise conscious of our abiding obligation to ensure that all steps are taken to prepare for the typhoon.”
Salceda, on the other hand, stated he was saddened by this turn of events, yet underlined that he understood why the APEC ISOM had to be transferred to Manila.
The Albay governor just put it “God giveth, God taketh away. Albay will just move on from this towards new opportunities. No excuses. No blaming. No weeping, we bury our dead and embrace the living. No sayang because we learned a lot and got exposed to complex challenges. Albay always a winner. No consolation prizes, no 1st runner up, Albay is Miss Universe.”
Salceda furthered that APEC NOC will have him still as one of the speakers at ISOM on the opening day on December 8. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)