CATBALOGAN CITY- An official of this city said that they are ready to accommodate the more than 300 delegates who will attend this year’s United Cities and Local Governments, Asia Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC) next month.
Ador Hurtado, city tourism officer, said that all the hotels around Catbalogan will be used for the billeting of the local and international guests.
“For the main UCLG event, the city has identified 10 hotels and tourist inns for the international and local participants, excluding the locals’ entourage. That would be a total of 210 rooms,” Hurtado said.
Catbalogan has 17 hotels and inns that could accommodate more than 500 people, he added.
Catbalogan will host this year’s UCLG-ASPAC slated to be held on April 4-7, the first international event to be stage in this city of more than 103,000 people.
Catbalogan is the lone member from the region of the association which is the lone UN-accredited league of local governments.
City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan had earlier said that the city government is ready for the international event that is expected to be attended by about 100 officials from the different cities and provinces in Asia-Pacific.
“When I presented last year to the group the city’s desire to host the event, no country has opposed. Every member of the 19-countries in ASPAC is excited about the city’s hosting of the Executive Bureau’s meeting,” Uy-Tan said.
This event is an opportunity for the city and the region to open doors for investors to come in, an international mileage to showcase our tourist destinations, our cultural heritage and uniqueness as a nation, the mayor added.
The meetings will allow local chief executives to interact with their counterparts from other countries and establish possible linkages that would lead to productive partnerships.
Secretary Ismael Sueno of the Department of Interior and Local Government has sent memorandum circular inviting 50 women local chief executives, 50 members of League of Cities and all local chief executives of Region VIII to attend the conference.
Aside from soliciting commitments of local governments for full implementation of the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030, there will be commitments and declarations, policy proposals and projects to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
The Sendai Framework on DRR was adopted by the Third United Nations Conference in Sendai, Japan on March 18, 2015.
Mayor Uy-Tan will present the city’s partnership with South Korea Odin Energy Co., Ltd. on the US$2.4 million wind tower that will provide 200 megawatts power that will supply 90% of the electricity needs of the city.
It is part of the new local government center and Sky City mega complex. It is one of the city’s contributions on climate change mitigation.
(VICKY C. ARNAIZ)
