DUBAI: With the possibility of President Duterte visiting the Philippine pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, the inter-agency task force he created to facilitate the country’s participation at the world’s most-anticipated historic event, called upon the approximately one million Filipinos in the UAE to help in efforts to make this undertaking a thundering success.
“We are very excited about this back home,” Dr. Leah J. Buendia, assistant secretary for international cooperation at the Department of Science and technology (DoST) told The Filipino Times on the sidelines of a gathering of Filipino architects held Monday evening at Deira City Centre’s Vox Cinema 11.
Buendia is part of a team led by Trade and Industry Asst. Secretary Rosario Virginia “Rosvi” C. Gaetos which was in Dubai to see presentations by companies that hae signified interest to be the pavilion project’s contractor. The DOST, along with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are the lead agencies overseeing the Philippines’ participation at Expo 2020.
“We are already in the technical review of the possible contractors. Kaya kami pumunta dito…to see their presentations. Super excited na kami sa Pilipinas kaya double time ang mga activities,” Buendia said.
Asked if President Duterte will be at the pavilion, Buendia said: “I am sure he will be part of the celebrations for Expo 2020.”
Buendia likewise urged the UAE Filipino community to be involved in the preparations and join in the efforts to make the country’s participation successful.
“It’s high time to take a look at what’s going on at Expo 2020. Tulungan nyong mai-promote ang Pilipinas,” she said.
Meantime, Arch. Royal Pineda, lead person in the pavilion’s design, which he said was “inspired by nature,” said the ball has started rolling.
“We are moving fast…moving forward because we need to make sure that we make it on time and that we do this right,” he told The Filipino Times at the jampacked Deira City Centre gathering organized by the Dubai chapter of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP).
Pineda said the plan is to “fabricate the pavilion and do it in a factory” such that it can be broken down and shipped back home for continued use.
“We are on track,” Pineda said, urging Filipinos in the UAE to contribute to the efforts in making the Philippines shine at Expo 2020. “Let’s all help each other and do the modern bayanihan,” he said.
The event was graced by Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes who, in his speech, said the undertaking “will be a continuing journey of the Filipino as encapsulated in the Expo 2020 Philippine pavilion.”
Also present to give updates on the Expo 2020 venue was Dr. Robert Platt, vice president for site integration who said construction of the structures have been underway.
“This is something that Dubai has not seen before,” Platt said.
