DUBAI—The Philippine government is spending about P300 million to build its coral reef-themed pavilion for the prestigious World Expo 2020 to be held here.
Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez told reporters the government is shelling out roughly P300 million to build the Bangkota—the ancient Filipino word for coral reef—which is the country’s pavilion for the World Expo. The government is estimated to pour in a total of P520.26 million for the design, construction and maintenance of the structure.
“The Philippines is funding over P300 million to build the structure for 2020. That’s what I remember that is in the budget that got approved,” Lopez said. “It’s really modest because it will run the whole time—[for] six months—and you have to build that structure.”
The Bangkota occupies 3,180.50 square meters of space in what is being branded as the world’s largest expo to date. It is larger in size compared to the pavilions of countries like Sweden, Austria, Luxembourg, Monaco, Ukraine, Finland, Poland, Czech Republic and even New Zealand.
In total, the Philippine government is spending a total of P820.49 million for the country’s participation in the World Expo.
Aside from the construction of the Bangkota, the government is utilizing P109.23 million for pavilion operations, P78 million for marketing and promotions, and P107 million for the accompanying events. Another P6 million was set aside as contingency funds.
According to Lopez, the government expects the country’s participation in the World Expo to improve its profile to the international community, especially after it completed its hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (Sea) Games.
“[We’re expecting] good image for the Philippines, especially right after the successful SEA Games [hosting]. It will put the Philippines on the map, that’s why the President’s decision to participate is okay. I think there were times that we didn’t join the expo. I think it’s a really good move that we did because our growth story right now is respectable,” Lopez said.
The Bangkota, the trade chief disclosed, will not only house export products of the Philippines as in usual trade shows, but its technology, heritage story, arts and culture as well—renditioned in physical and visual mediums.
Once the World Expo ends in 2021, the government will ship the pavilion to the Philippines and place it in New Clark City. Lopez said this would allow Filipinos who can’t come here for the World Expo to see the Bangkota themselves.
“After the six-month expo, we will bring it to the Philippines. We have discussed this with Vince Dizon [of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority], who offered a place in Clark so we can mount it again for Filipinos to see it. It will be our exhibit,” Lopez explained.
The Bangkota is designed by renowned architect Royal Pineda and Budji Layug. The contents that will be featured in the Bangkota, on the other hand, are curated by Marian Roces.
World Expo 2020 will run from October 2020 to April 2021 here. Organizers are projecting over 25 million visitors in what they branded as the world’s greatest show.
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