CityNet Secretariat visited Iloilo City on Feb 26-28, 2024 to mark the start of preparations for the 44th Executive Committee (ExCom) Meeting to be scheduled in the fourth quarter. CityNet Secretariat, led by its Deputy Director Paulie Mora, reiterated its full support to Iloilo City’s hosting of CityNet’s annual and most important gathering.
It is the first time for the city to host the CityNet’s ExCom. It has been nine years since ExCom was held in the Philippines when Makati City hosted in 2016.
During the courtesy meeting of CityNet Secretariat, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas said the city is ready to welcome an approximate 100 local and international participants. Hosting the ExCom meeting strengthens our position as a preferred MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) destination in the Asia Pacific region, he added.
Moreover, CityNet Secretariat met the members of the newly formed Iloilo City ExCom Committee, comprised of different city department heads. Both parties discussed the details of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOU). These include the shortlisting of the ExCom dates, the program for the international seminar and site visits, and the visits to proposed hotels and local tourist areas.
Mr. Francis Cruz, Iloilo City’s CityNet contact person, said the city will ensure CityNet members will leave with good memories of ExCom. The city has a good record in hosting events and conferences given the city has been a MICE destination in the Philippines, he added.
Moving forward, CityNet Secretariat and Iloilo City will finalize the details of the MOU. Both will also issue the Save the Date Announcement of the 44th Executive Committee Meeting for the Members in the coming weeks.
Paulie Mora is a Deputy-Director of Programs at CityNet, primarily responsible for capacity building and cluster activities. Prior to working in CityNet, Paulie spent ten years working in a national local government association based in Manila, Philippines. He has held various supervisory positions in both regular and foreign-assisted programs and projects that focused on urban development. He graduated with a journalism degree at the University of Santo Tomas. Paulie has a professional background in development communications, public advocacy, local governance, and urban sociology.
