Information Note to Participants 2011-2012 INTER-SESSIONAL PANEL UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT (UN CSTD) NEW WORLD HOTEL, MAKATI CITY REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 13-15 DECEMBER 2011 1 P a g e As of: 18 November 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS I Introduction and Draft Provisional Agenda 3 II Contacts 3-4 III Registration 4 IV Conference Venue 4 V Accommodations 4-6 VI Arrival and Entry Formalities 6-7 VII Airport-Hotel Transportation 7 VIII Official Language 7 IX Medical Insurance 7 X Dress Code 7 XI Country General Information 7-8 Annexes A Draft Provisional Agenda B Registration Form C Hotel Reservation Form D List of Countries without Visa Requirements PAGE # 2 P a g e
I. INTRODUCTION AND DRAFT PROVISIONAL AGENDA The 2011-2012 UN CSTD inter-sessional panel is organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. It will be held at the New World Hotel on 13-15 December 2011. The Draft Provisional Agenda for the 2011-2012 UN CSTD Inter-Sessional Panel is included in Annex A. II. CONTACTS 3 P a g e All questions related to the agenda and substantive programme, should be addressed to: Prof. Fortunato T. de la Peña, Chairperson of the CSTD Undersecretary for Scientific & Technical Services Department of Science and Technology Tel: (+632) 837-2071 to 82 loc. 2020 Fax: (+632) 837-2945 E-mail: ftdp@dost.gov.ph Dr. Mongi Hamdi, Head of the CSTD Secretariat Division on Technology and Logistics UNCTAD Tel: (+41) 22-917-5069 E-mail: mongi.hamdi@unctad.org All questions related to administrative and logistical preparations, should be addressed to: Mr. Jason Munyan, Associate Economic Affairs Officer Division on Technology and Logistics UNCTAD Tel: (+41) 22-917-3018 E-mail: jason.munyan@unctad.org Mr. Bernie S. Justimabaste Director, Planning & Evaluation Service (PES) Department of Science and Technology Tel: (+632) 837-2071 to 82 loc. 2570
Fax: (+632) 837-2932 E-mail: bejust@dost.gov.ph III. REGISTRATION All delegates must register in advance. Please complete the attached Registration Form at Annex B and send it to the UN CSTD secretariat via fax at (+41) 22 917 0052 or email at stdev@unctad.org and cc: jason.munyan@unctad.org. Deadline of Registration is on 02 December 2011. IV. CONFERENCE VENUE The venue for the Inter-Sessional Panel Meeting of the UN CSTD is the New World Hotel, Makati City. Address: Esperanza Street corner Makati Avenue, Makati City 1228 PHILIPPINES Tel: (+632) 811 6888 Fax: (+632) 811 6777 Contact Person: Ms. Cecil Ocampo Assistant Director of Sales Tel: (+632) 755 6841 Fax: (+632) 755 6866 E-mail: cecil.ocampo@newworldhotels.com For more information on the hotel, you can log on to their website at www.newworldhotels.com. V. ACCOMMODATIONS The designated venue for the meeting is at New World Hotel. Special rates have been arranged for the participants, as follow: 4 P a g e Room Type Room Rates (with breakfast) Superior Single US$ 133.80
Superior Twin US$ 147.64 * 1 US Dollar = 43.34909 Philippine Peso All room rates include local tax, VAT and 10% service charge. Participants are requested to make room reservations and arrange payment directly with the hotel no later than 02 December 2011 to ensure room availability. Participants are advised to make their room reservations directly, by completing the attached Hotel Reservation Form (Annex C) and sending it to New World Hotel via Fax: (+632) 755 6866 and/or email at cecil.ocampo@newworldhotels.com and copying redelosreyes@dost.gov.ph. Participants are responsible for all room charges, taxes and incidental expenses which will be settled upon check-out. Standard check-in time is 2:00 p.m. Standard check-out time is 12:00 noon. Arrivals before 10:00 a.m. will incur an automatic extra charge of one (1) night, as the room will have to be reserved the night prior to ensure availability on the day of arrival. Please vacate your room by 12:00 noon and place your luggage with the concierge if you do not wish to incur additional charges. Participants may also arrange their own reservations at the hotel of their choice. While participants are encouraged to make reservations at the conference venue, they are welcome to make reservations at the hotel of their choice. The Host Country secretariat can provide additional hotel options upon request. December is the Yuletide season and therefore peak season everywhere in the Philippines, and most establishments will be fully booked. Please make sure that room reservations are made on or before the set deadline. Otherwise, rooms will be subject to availability and the special rates may no longer apply after the deadline. Participants credit card information will be required upon reservation and an imprint will be made during check-in to guarantee the booking of the room 5 P a g e
and cover incidental charges that the guests may incur during his/her stay. Participants with hotel reservations will be responsible for costs charged for no-shows on reserved dates. VI. ARRIVAL AND ENTRY FORMALITIES a. Guidelines on the Entry of Temporary Visitors to the Philippines Nationals from 150 countries (for complete list see Annex D) who are traveling to the Philippines for business and tourism purposes are allowed to enter the Philippines without visas for a stay not exceeding twenty-one (21) days, provided they hold valid tickets for their return journey to port of origin or next port of destination and their passports valid for a period of at least six (6) months beyond the contemplated period of stay. However, Immigration Officers at ports of entry may exercise their discretion to admit holders of passports valid for at least sixty (60) days beyond the intended period of stay. The following are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a period of stay not exceeding fifty-nine (59) days: Holders of Brazil passports; and Holders of Israel passports The following are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a period of stay not exceeding seven (7) days: Holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative (SAR) passports Holders of British National Overseas (BNO) passports Holders of Portuguese Passports issued in Macao Holders of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports Further inquiries may be addressed to the: Department of Foreign Affairs, Visa Division Tel: 834-4854, 834-3707, and 834-4810 Website: www.dfa.gov.ph Address: 2330 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City or to any Philippine Embassy or Consulate abroad. b. Airport Departure Tax 6 P a g e
An airport departure tax of US$ 17.30 or Php 750.00 per person is required and should be paid for in cash by all departing passengers for international flights. This tax is payable only at special tellers inside the airport. VII. AIRPORT-HOTEL TRANSPORTATION The Host Country Secretariat will be at the airport and will provide vehicle transportation to and from the hotel for the arrival and departure of all participants. VIII. OFFICIAL LANGUAGE English will be the official language for the panel. interpretation services will not be provided. Translation and IX. MEDICAL INSURANCE All participants are strongly advised to obtain international health insurance coverage before they travel to the Philippines. X. DRESS CODE The dress code for all the meetings is business attire, unless otherwise advised. XI. COUNTRY GENERAL INFORMATION a. Climate and Weather The general climate of the Philippine archipelago is tropical with only dry and wet seasons. Weather in December is generally cool or pleasant with the northeast monsoon. Temperature ranges from 22 C to 28 C b. Local currency The currency in the Philippines is the Philippine Peso (PhP) and the Centavo. Coin denominations are: 5, 10, and 25 centavos, P1, P5 and P10. Bill denominations are: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 pesos. 7 P a g e
Foreign currency may be exchanged at your hotel, and in most of the local department stores, banks and authorized money changers. Exchanging money anywhere else is illegal and the laws are strictly enforced. Approximately US$ 1 is equivalent to Php 43.34909 (as of 11 November 2011). Most big establishments, restaurants, hotels and shops accept major credit cards. Traveller's checks, preferably American Express, are accepted at hotels and big department stores. Personal checks drawn on foreign banks are generally not accepted. c. Time Local Time: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +8 d. Electricity and Water Electric current in the Philippines is 220 volts. Should you need 110- volt electric current, kindly ask the hotel accommodation staff for assistance. e. Phone services Long distance calls can be made from hotel rooms and international public phones. Pre-paid phone cards are available at nearby shops. Please note that all charges for personal phone calls made in hotel rooms are the responsibility of the delegates. f. Business Hours Generally, banks open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, except for some banks which close at 7:00 pm. Shopping malls are open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm during weekdays and 10:00 am to 10:00 pm on weekends. g. Anti-Smoking Law in Enclosed Places Section five of the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9211) prohibits the carrying of any lighted tobacco product in public vehicles, schools, health centers, elevators, cinemas, malls and in places where fire hazards are present. Smoking is also banned in recreational facilities for minors. Fines imposed on violators of this section range from P500 to P10,000. Smoking is allowed only on designated places within the hotel premises and designated hotel rooms. 8 P a g e