PGMA to speak before RP-Russian biz forum tonight

Cebu City (7 August) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is slated to arrive late this afternoon in Cebu to speak before more than 200 participants of the one-day Philippine-Russian Business Forum (PRBF) at 8:00 p.m. tonight at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City, the same venue of the 12th Asean Summit.

Scheduled to arrive at 5:00 p.m. at the Most Important Person (MIP) Lounge of the Mactan Cebu International Airport, the President will proceed to her presidential residence at the Malacañang sa Sugbo (MSS) before motoring to the CICC for her open engagement.

The forum organized by the Philippine-Russian Business Assembly, Incorporated (PRBAI), is the first formal, international dialogue between Filipino and Russian business people and will provide delegates with the latest information on the fundamental issues of doing business in the country and Russia.

The forum likewise aims to further strengthen the dynamic business ties and economic cooperation between Russia and the Philippines and work towards the formation of vital linkages that streamline the investment protocols in both countries.

About 30 delegates from Russia will be attending the forum while a total of 230 to 250 participants from the business sector particularly importers and exporters and the academe will be attending the event.

Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation Business Assembly Armi Lopez Garcia, Giv. Gwen Garcia, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and CICC Director Marissa Nalana will receive the President upon her arrival at the CICC.

Apart from the President’s speech, a highlight of the forum will be the oath-taking of the officers of the PRBAI to be administered by the President.

At 10:00 tomorrow morning, Pres. Arroyo will also administer the oath of the new set of officers of the National Executive Council of the Barangay Councilor’s League of the Philippines (BCLP) at the MSS.

After the oath-taking ceremony, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will present to Pres. Arroyo the Guinness World Record Certificate given to the Dance Sport Team Cebu City (DSTCC) for having held the largest dance class. The DSTCC with 7,700 members broke the record of Budapest, Hungary for the Guinness World Book of Record as the “largest dance class” in the world last June 27 at the Cebu City Sports Center. Hungary only had over 2,000 dancers when they held the recognition of having held the largest dance class worldwide.

A seven-minute video presentation of the larges dance class will be shown and this will be followed by a live kids’ dance presentation to be witnessed by the President.

At 4:00 p.m., Pres. Arroyo will be one of the principal sponsors of the wedding of Gov. Garcia’s daughter Atty. Ma. Esperanza Christina Garcia to Liloan, Cebu Mayor Vincent Franco Frasco at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Other principal sponsors include Vice President Noli de Castro and former Pres. Joseph Estrada while the wedding reception is at the CICC which Pres. Arroyo also signified to attend.

On Sunday morning at 8:45, Pres. Arroyo will depart for Sogod, Southern Leyte for a series of engagements. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)