Ambassador: APEC benefits outweigh inconvenience

MANILA, Philippines — The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) organizing committee on Wednesday said the "minor" inconvenience Filipinos will experience during the culminating events is outweighed by the benefits of hosting it.

Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., director general of the APEC 2015 National Organizing Council, said the Philippines's hosting will boost its trade.

“Four days of inconvenience in 18 years? For APEC? if you are using APEC as the reason, I think it’s unfair,” Paynor said in an interview with ANC's Beyond Politics.

“And when we think of the fact that 80 percent of our total trade is with APEC member economies and this trade has been increasing every year, there’s no reason not to be a member of APEC,” he added.

He made the statement following complaints over the hundreds of canceled flights, some closed roads and interrupted activities to give way to the arrival of APEC delegates and world leaders in the country.

LIST: Metro Manila roads closed for APEC events | LIST: Domestic, int’l flights canceled for APEC

Paynor appealed for the public’s understanding on adjustments for the APEC events. He said it is the country’s commitment and responsibility to accommodate invited delegates.

“What we need and what we’re asking for is actually the understanding of our people that we are (the) host, we are hosting and we have guests we have invited them and it is necessary because we host intern,” Paynor said.

The APEC's main events are slated from November 16 to 20. Twenty heads of APEC member countries are expected to arrive in Manila, including United States President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin.