MANILA, July 19 — The ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in November will be transferred to Metro Manila from Clark in Pampanga, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez told reporters Wednesday.
Lopez said that the available hotel rooms in Clark were not enough to accommodate the delegates attending the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings.
There are new hotel facilities intended to cater the demand in accommodation, but the period to build these facilities fall short to meet the November event, the official added.
Included in the new accommodation facilities is the 21-Unit ASEAN Summit Villas of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) which was set for a pre-bid conference last April.
The project costs around PHP750 million.
The trade chief said the government, instead of taking the risk of holding the summit in Clark, has chosen to host the summit in National Capital Region.
But he said that other ASEAN meetings, except for the leaders’ summit, are still eyed to be held in Clark.
“The main one will be in Manila,” Lopez said. (PNA)
