Gov’t agencies directed to support 51st ADB annual meeting

MANILA — Malacanang has enjoined all appropriate government agencies to support the country’s hosting of the 51st annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors set from May 3 to 6.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea made the directive through Memorandum Circular No. 38 which he signed on January 17 and released to the media on Tuesday.

Under the circular, a steering committee has been created to take charge of the coordination, preparation and arrangement to ensure the successful hosting of the ADB annual meeting.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III will chair the steering committee while members include Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Gov. Nestor Espenilla Jr. and Secretaries Wanda Corazon Teo of Tourism, Benjamin Diokno of Budget and Management, Ramon Lopez of Trade and Industry, Alan Peter Cayetano of Foreign Affairs, Mark Villar of Public Works and Highways, Arthur Tugade of Transportation and Eduardo Ano of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The steering committee shall identify and evaluate the present condition of existing and relevant facilities and infrastructure that are needed for the hosting of the ADB annual event.

The panel will also oversee and make all necessary decisions in relation to the hosting of the meeting which has theme “Linking People and Economies for Inclusive Development.”

“All other government agencies are hereby directed to ensure the proper allocation of human resources, cooperate with the steering committee and provide full support to activities related to the meeting,” the memorandum said.

The agenda of the meeting will reportedly focus on programs that ADB will carry out in the next 50 years to sustain poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth.

Manila has been the home of ADB’s main headquarters for the last 50 years. (PNA)