The tropical cyclone Hagupit (Bagyong Ruby) made its first casualty as the National Organizing Committee on the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will transfer the informal senior officials meeting (SOM) from the Province of Albay to Metro Manila because of the Bagyong Ruby.
According to the latest report from PAGASA, the tropical cyclone Hagupit is expected to make landfall on Saturday morning in the Eastern part of the Visayas, while the APEC Summit Event will be held on December 8 and 9, 2014.
In an interview with ANC’s Top Story, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda admitted that the committee had to make an immediate decision on whether or not to transfer the venue since at least 400 delegates from APEC-member countries are expected to arrive this Saturday and Sunday.
Gov. Salceda also explains that instead of trying to wait a day until making the decision, it would be difficult to invite the delegates to go to a location that could be affected by rains brought by Bagyong Hagupit (Ruby).
Although the Province of Albay had been preparing for the event for two years, but the LGU of Albay put more importance to the safety of APEC participants. Aside from the postponement of the APEC meeting in Albay, the provincial government also announced the preparations they made for the typhoon, which is expected to make a landfall on Saturday.
As reported earlier, Ambassador Marciano Paynor said that around 400 delegates from APEC member-countries was set to attend the informal meeting in Albay, the meeting is very crucial for the entire APEC Summit in the Philippines, because it will set the tone for the whole summit.