• Only Metro Manila can accommodate 10,000 people, says APEC 2015 organizer
• President Aquino recognizes Filipinos’ solidarity and resilience on Yolanda anniversary

APEC News Releases

• Only Metro Manila can accommodate 10,000 people, says APEC 2015 organizer

“APEC is the Wedding of the Century” and everybody wants to attend, said Del Rosario, who also chairs the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) this year.

Classes and work in most government offices, as well as most commercial flights to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), have been suspended from November 17 to 20 for top-level APEC meetings.

Previous to the November meetings are topical APEC meetings on health, disaster risk reduction, finance, micro/small/medium enterprises, etc. held in various places around the country including in Cebu, Boracay, and Bohol.

Since November last year, the Phlippines has hosted eight ministers’ meetings and 120 working group meetings that were attended by some 7,000 people.

APEC consists of 21 member economies that touch the Pacific Ocean. They are: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong-China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.

The APEC meetings include the SOM on November 13-14, the ministers’ meetings on November 16-17, and the leaders’ summit on November 18-19. (PCOO-APEC Communications Group)

In a statement read by Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda over dzRB Radio ng Bayan, the Chief Executive also recognized the people who joined the relief and rehabilitation efforts to help those affected by the strongest typhoon in history.

“Today, we commemorate how our country and the world came together to face the challenges of the strongest typhoon in history, Typhoon Yolanda. We pause in prayer for the loved ones we lost, and pay tribute to the soldiers and civilians who placed themselves in danger to help their fellow man. May the memory and lessons of that time inspire us to persevere in building back better, and in living up to the solidarity, resilience, and generosity of Filipinos from all walks of life demonstrated not only then, but in all times of challenge and adversity,” the President said.

The President likewise acknowledged the generosity of the people from here and abroad as the country faced the challenges of the super typhoon which left more than 6,000 dead in Eastern Visayas.

“God’s grace has enabled our country to ease the sufferings of those who lost everything in Yolanda, and re-establish communities that are once again working to have a safer, and prosperous future. This would not have been possible without the world’s embrace of our people and our people’s own heroic generosity and sacrifice,” the President said.

“The Filipino people will never forget the kindness that allowed us to overcome this tragedy and are resolved to be there for nations and peoples similarly affected by tragedy,” the President added.

Meanwhile, Secretary Lacierda has assured that everything is being done to help typhoon victims despite criticism on the government’s rehabilitation efforts.

While critics claimed that the government action in typhoon-devastated areas has been slow, Secretary Lacierda said this is understandable.

“Siyempre, mayroon hong mga kuro-kuro na nagsasabing mabagal. Naiintindihan po natin ‘yung mga nagsasabi ng ganyan. Mayroon din pong nagsasabi rin, tulad ng nasabi na rin ng ating mga observer—tulad po ng United Nations na parati po silang kasama sa mga sakuna, hindi lang po sa Pilipinas, (ngunit) sa maraming ibang bansa po—na ang pagkilos ng pamahalaang Pilipinas, at saka kasama po ang local governments ng lahat ng Yolanda-affected areas ay mas mabilis po kumpara sa ibang bansa,” Secretary Lacierda explained.

Secretary Lacierda also stressed the need to build back better communities to ensure the safety of the people.

“Gayunpaman, kinikilala po natin (na) may mga kritiko po tayong nagsasabing mabagal, pero malaki po ang sakunang nangyari sa atin at patuloy po nating tinutulungan at ginagampanan po ang ating trabaho. Ang prinsipyo po na ating sinusunod dito sa ‘Yolanda’ po ay “build back better” dahil po ang nangyari po sa ‘Yolanda’ ay storm surge. We need to build back better communities po,” he said.

“Ang dami na po nating nagawa sa loob ng dalawang taon at patuloy pa po nating ginagawa at in-i-improve ang kalagayan ng mga Yolanda-affected areas. Marami pong towns diyan nanumbalik na po…ang pagbalik ng public markets, municipal halls, civic centers na ginagawa ng DILG ay na-establish na po ‘yan. Marami po tayong mga assistance,” he further said.

Secretary Lacierda also urged the public to check the Official Gazette website regarding all government projects.

“Hindi lang po mga kritiko natin, lahat po ng ating mga tagasubaybay—mayroon po sa Official Gazette po (www.gov.ph) lahat po ng mga proyekto na ginawa ng national government. Nandoon na po lahat, nakasulat po…tungkol po sa social services, sa power, sa infrastructure, sa communities po, livelihood… Marami na pong [nagawa roon], nandito po sa Official Gazette. ‘Yan po ang ating nagawa at patuloy pa rin nating tutulungan ang ating mga kababayan at ang mga komunidad na naapektuhan ng Typhoon Yolanda,” Secretary Lacierda said. PND (jm)

“APEC is the Wedding of the Century” and everybody wants to attend, said Del Rosario, who also chairs the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) this year.

Classes and work in most government offices, as well as most commercial flights to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), have been suspended from November 17 to 20 for top-level APEC meetings.

Previous to the November meetings are topical APEC meetings on health, disaster risk reduction, finance, micro/small/medium enterprises, etc. held in various places around the country including in Cebu, Boracay, and Bohol.

Since November last year, the Phlippines has hosted eight ministers’ meetings and 120 working group meetings that were attended by some 7,000 people.

APEC consists of 21 member economies that touch the Pacific Ocean. They are: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong-China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.

The APEC meetings include the SOM on November 13-14, the ministers’ meetings on November 16-17, and the leaders’ summit on November 18-19. (PCOO-APEC Communications Group)