PLDT strengthens data connections for APEC meet in Cebu

Philippines telecoms and digital services provider PLDT has stepped up its efforts to provide internet services for the meetings being held by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) delegates in Cebu City.

PLDT has strengthened its network coverage by deploying up to 100-mbps connectivity at Cebu’s premier hotels where the key APEC committee conferences are being held. These include the Waterfront Hotel, Marriott Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel, and Movenpick Hotel.

PLDT’s wireless subsidiary Smart Communications is also providing free Smart WiFi connectivity at the Cebu International and Domestic airports to accommodate the influx of diplomats and officials arriving for the APEC meetings.

“With the Philippines hosting this year’s APEC meetings, we at PLDT have taken steps to ensure that these events have the internet connectivity the delegates need to do their work,” said PLDT President and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno.

“We want to help showcase the Philippines’ capabilities to host the APEC Summit,” he added.

Spread out over three weeks, the APEC consultations in Cebu will culminate with the Senior Officials and Finance Ministerial Meetings on September 9 to 11. The discussions cover trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation, and economic cooperation within the Asia-Pacific region.

On September 5-6, the Senior Official’s Meeting was held. The SOM is traditionally is the most heavily attended meeting because it brings together various APEC Working Groups, Sub-fora and Committees where Vice Ministers and Directors General will endorse initiatives that aim to make the region more dynamic, resilient, and inclusive.

Specific issues tackled included illegal logging, mining, health, counter-terrorism, food safety, intellectual property rights, standards and conformance, sustainability of cities, disaster risk management, among others.

The SOM will be followed by two Ministerial-level meetings: the Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting (SRMM) on 7-8 September 2015 and the Finance Ministerial Meeting (FMM) on 9-11 September 2015.

These meetings continue to focus on this year’s four priorities of APEC under the overarching theme of “Building Economies, Building a Better World,” through enhancing regional economic integration; fostering MSMEs’ participation in regional and global markets.