Dubai expo -Philippines pavilion to be ready next month

Bangkota, the Philippines pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, is set for handover next month, a top Philippines official said.

Ramon Lopez, Commissioner and General Secretary, Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), announced that the Philippines pavilion, which will highlight the country’s passion for sustainability, is on track for its scheduled handover in March.

Expo 2020 Dubai will run from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022. Its theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, is aimed at creating a meaningful legacy that will “benefit generations to come, spanning everything — from innovations and architecture to friendships and business opportunities.”

“While recent restrictions brought about by the pandemic posed a challenge, they also unleashed within the team their resourcefulness and creativity — allowing them to pull off such a magnificent piece of work without any delays,” he noted.

Lopez said the design of Bangkota, an ancient Tagalog word that means coral reef, honours the natural resources that the Philippines has to offer, specifically the architectural character of the coral reefs native to the archipelagic country.

The Philippines pavilion is located at Expo 2020’s Sustainability District. Lopez said: “Bangkota is an actualisation of the Philippines government’s drive to promote sustainability — with most materials sourced locally and are recyclable”.