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.