2015 APEC meetings might be postponed

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MANILA – Following the recent “smear campaign” against the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC), Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas expressed concern that this may lead to the postponement of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings next year.

“Iloilo has been chosen to host the APEC ministerial meetings in 2015 because of the significant achievements our province has made for the past years with assistance from the national government,” he said. “It is unfortunate, however, that these developments could anytime be reversed because of the malicious and baseless allegations regarding the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center,” he added.

In a joint statement with Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog and Iloilo-second district Rep. Arcadio Gorriceta, Treñas asked the camp of Binay “not to block the significant growth Iloilo is now experiencing because of the various development and infrastructure projects made possible under the term of President Aquino.”

“We are appealing to the opposition to spare Iloilo from all these political bickering. We have made enough progress in the past years due to the intervention of our Ilonggo leader, Senate President Franklin Drilon,” the three said.

They added, “The completion of the Iloilo Convention Center will be the realization of our dream to recapture Iloilo’s premier position as the ‘Queen City of the South’.”

They also noted that the convention facility would be able to contribute to the promotion of tourism in Iloilo.