RP projects for APEC

RP projects for APEC

MANILA (AFP): About 500 million pesos (US$19.2 million) worth of projects will be put up for bid ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit due to be held here in 1996, an official said yesterday.

The projects include the upgrading of existing infrastructure and the building of new buildings to accommodate 21 heads of state, some 500 to 1,000 staff members, and 2,000 journalists expected to cover the event, an official of the special economic zone where summit will be held said.

Manila will host the summit in November 1996, but advance parties from member countries will arrive in Subic -- a former U.S. naval base north of Manila -- as early as August 1996, analyst Armand Areza of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority said.

The projects involve the 210 million-peso construction of 21 villas to house government leaders, the 200 million-peso conversion of two existing buildings into a conference hall and a media center, and the 100 million-peso transformation of a building into a five-star hotel.