MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the creation of an organizing committee that will handle the Philippines’ participation in the Expo 2020 Dubai.
The expo will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021 which is expected to attract 25 million visits and draw participation from at least 190 countries, according to organizers.
In preparation for the world expo, Duterte issued Administrative Order 17 on April 24 which orders the creation of the Philippine Organizing Committee to be headed by the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry.
The Tourism secretary will serve as the vice chairperson with the secretaries of foreign affairs, budget and management, labor and employment, science and technology, and information and communications technology as members.
The organizing committee is mandated to come up and implement a theme of the Philippines which will present the country as an ideal destination for trade, tourism, and investments and showcase the best of Filipino culture and heritage, while adhering to the over-all themes and sub-themes of the Expo 2020 Dubai.”
The committee must also ensure that the benefits of the Philippine participation are maximized through a “concerted and cost-effective national approach.”
Duterte also required the body to submit quarterly reports of its accomplishments not later than 30 days after the end of every quarter and a final report within 60 days after the closing of the Expo 2020 Dubai to the Office of the President and the Department of Budget and Management.
The reports must include the expenses, income generated, achievement, economic impact, and recommendation for future policy development and actions.
Funding for the committee’s operations will initially be sourced from the contingent fund of the 2019 national budget and later the 2020 budget.
According to the President, the participation of the Philippines in the Expo 2020 Dubai “provides an excellent opportunity to further enhance the country’s presence on a global scale, and promote the country’s commercial and public interests in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region.”
He said the expo offers a platform “to foster creativity, innovation, and global cooperation, which will contribute to the country’s goal of vigorously advancing science, technology, and innovation as a strategy for long-term growth, consistent with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022.” (GMA News)
