Catbalogan gov’t asks local hotels to brace for Asia-Pacific mayors’ meet

CATBALOGAN CITY, March 15 (PNA) -- The city government here has asked hotel owners to prepare accommodation facilities for the expected 300 participants in the United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC) conference on April 4-7.

Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan asked the Department of Tourism to train some hotel workers to improve their services to international guests.

“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,” Uy-Tan added.

Less than a month before the first international event to be hosted by the city, tourism officer Ador Hurtado assured that the city can accommodate all participants. The city will not allow guests to stay overnight outside Catbalogan for security reasons.

Catbalogan is the lone member in Eastern Visayas of the only UN-accredited local government organization.

Of the 300 expected delegates, the 100-strong chief executives from different cities and provinces across the Asia-Pacific region will join the Executive Bureau meeting.

“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.

The city has about 500 hotel rooms, according to the local tourism officer.

Uy-Tan said UCLG-ASPAC mayors are interested to see Samar province and how the local government carries out projects supporting the Sustainable Development Goals.

“When I presented last year to the group the city’s desire to host the event, no country opposed. Every member of the 19 countries in ASPAC is excited about the city’s hosting of the Executive Bureau’s meeting,” she added.

The gathering will allow local chief executives to interact with their counterparts from other countries and establish possible linkages that would lead to productive partnerships.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno sent a memorandum circular inviting 50 women local chief executives, 50 members of the League of Cities, and all local chief executives of the Eastern Visayas region to attend the conference.

Aside from soliciting the commitment of local governments for the 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 3rd United Nations Conference in Sendai, Japan on March 18, 2015.

Uy-Tan will present the city’s partnership with South Korea Odin Energy Co. Ltd. on the USD2.4 million wind tower, which will provide 200 megawatts that will cover 90 percent 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 to climate change mitigation.

The UCLG-ASPAC is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, one of the Regional Sections of UCLG, an amalgamation of International Union of Local Authorities, United Towns Organization (UTO), and World Association of the Major Metropolises. It was established on Jan. 1, 2004, with its headquarters in Barcelona, Spain. (PNA)

CVL/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ/EGR