Subic businesses eyeing P100-M AdCon income

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – A whopping P60 million to P100 million worth of income could be earned by local businesses here during the 21st Philippine Advertising Congress (PAC) meet at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) on November 18 to 21.

An analysis from Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) executive director Kenneth Peralta said that a conservative revenue estimate from holding this year’s PAC would garner some P60 to P70 million.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), on the other hand, said that it would eventually exceed the expected target of P70 million as SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza pointed out that the hotel industry inside this premier Freeport, including nearby communities such as Olongapo City, would get the bulk.

Most of which, he said, would trickle down to other industries such as transportation, food and beverages, duty-free shops and other tourism establishments.

He said that around 10,000 people who will be participating in the congress would at least spend P10,000 each for the four-day stay during the AdCongress (AdCon).

He added that he got the calculations from the congress itself, as 3,500 delegates would be coming over along with their families.

An awards night that would also prove to be a crowd-drawer is the Araw Awards, a culminating feature of the congress that recognizes the best works in the advertising industry.

“The 21st AdCon will be an early Christmas present for Subic Bay, Olongapo City, and even the contiguous areas of Bataan and Zambales,” said Arreza.

Local businesses, meanwhile, are working on their end to prepare hotels and restaurants for the PAC, which is considered as the local advertising industry’s version of the Oscar Awards, said SBFCC’s Peralta.

The SBFCC, a private, non-profit organization established in 1995 by business locators in this free port, has done the same in 2007’s installment of the advertising event.

Peralta, however, admitted that this year’s congress is, comparably “very, very challenging.”

“In 2007, we were given five months to prepare. This year, barely three weeks,” said Peralta, noting the sudden shift of the congress venue from Baguio City to Subic because of the heavy damage sustained by roads leading to the original venue.

Peralta also noted that the SBMA workforce is working at a very impressive pace, impressing both the local businessmen and the 21st PAC organizing committee. By JONAS REYES - Manila Bulletin