1. Introduction
The Asian Pacific Digestive Week (APDW) 2026 Manila (“the Congress”) is jointly hosted by the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology (PSG), the Philippine Society of Digestive Endoscopy (PSDE), and the Hepatology Society of the Philippines (HSP), collectively referred to as the “Local Organising Committee” or “LOC.” The Congress is held under the auspices of the APDW Foundation (“APDWF”).
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect the personal data of individuals who visit our website (www.apdw2026manila.com), register as delegates, submit abstracts, apply for awards or grants, or otherwise interact with the Congress. We are committed to safeguarding your privacy and handling your personal data in compliance with applicable data protection laws.
By accessing our website, registering for the Congress, or submitting personal data to us, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.
2. Data Controllers
The joint data controllers for personal data collected in connection with APDW 2026 Manila are:
- Philippine Society of Gastroenterology (PSG)
- Philippine Society of Digestive Endoscopy (PSDE)
- Hepatology Society of the Philippines (HSP)
These three societies, operating as the APDW 2026 Local Organising Committee, jointly determine the purposes andmeans of processing personal data for the Congress.
Data Processor: Wizlink Consulting Pte Ltd serves as the Professional Congress Organiser (PCO) and processes personal data on behalf of the LOC in accordance with a data processing agreement.
Post-Congress Data Ownership: In accordance with APDWF guidelines, all delegate data collected during the Congress belongs to the APDW Foundation andshall be returned to the APDWF at the conclusion of the Congress. The APDWF will handle such data in accordance with its own data protection policies.
3. Applicable Data Protection Laws
This Privacy Policy is designed to comply with the following data protection regulations, as applicable to the individual data subject:
- Republic Act No. 10173 — Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Philippines): As the primary data protection law of the Philippines, where the Congress is held, this Act governs the collection, processing, and storage of personal data of all individuals, including Filipino nationals and those physically present in the Philippines.
- General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR): For delegates and website visitors who are residents of the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, we comply with the GDPR’s requirements regarding lawful basis for processing, data subject rights, and international data transfers.
- Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (Singapore PDPA): As the Congress Secretariat and PCO is based in Singapore, the Singapore PDPA applies to the processing of personal data by the PCO.
For delegates from other Asia-Pacific jurisdictions, we apply the highest applicable standard of dataprotection consistent with the laws of the delegate’s country of residence.
4. Personal Data We Collect
4.1 Website Visitors
- Technical data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device information, pages visited, date and time of access
- Cookie data: Session identifiers, preferences, and analytics data (see Section 11)
- Enquiry data: Name, email address, and message content if you contact us via the website
4.2 Delegates (Registration)
- Identity data: Full name, title, date of birth, gender, nationality
- Contact data: Email address, telephone number, postal address
- Professional data: Institution/organisation, department, position/title, professional qualifications, medical specialty, medical licence number (where applicable)
- Registration data: Registration category, selected sessions, add-ons (e.g. Post-Graduate Course), dietary requirements, accessibility needs
- Financial data: Payment method, transaction reference (note: full credit card details are processed by our payment provider DragonPay and are not stored by the LOC)
- Visa data: Passport details and travel information (only if a Visa Invitation Letter is requested)
4.3 Abstract Submitters & Award Applicants
- Abstract content: Title, authors, affiliations, abstract text, presentation preference
- Award application data: CV, publication list, supervisor endorsement, research summary
- Grant application data: Career stage, country of practice, financial need justification
4.4 Speakers, Faculty & Invited Guests
- Biographical data: Professional biography, photograph, curriculum vitae
- Travel data: Flight details, accommodation preferences, arrival/departure dates
- Financial data: Bank account details for honorarium payments or reimbursements
5. How We Collect Personal Data
- We collect personal data through the following means:
- Directly from you: When you register, submit an abstract, apply for an award or grant, contact us, or provide information at the Congress
- From your institution: When group registration is completed by an institutional coordinator on your behalf
- Automatically: Through cookies and similar technologies when you visit our website
- From third parties: From nominating societies (for lectureships and awards), from the APDW Foundation, or from co-hosting organisations
6. Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal data on the following legal bases, as applicable under the relevant data protection law:
7. Data Sharing & Third Parties
We may share your personal data with the following categories of recipients, and only to the extent necessary for the stated purposes:
7.1 APDW Foundation (APDWF)
All congress delegate data will be shared with and returned to the APDWF at the conclusion of the Congress, as required by Foundation guidelines. The APDWF uses this data for statistical analysis, future congress planning, and the administration of Foundation programmes.
7.2 Congress Service Providers
- EventsAir (registration platform provider)
- DragonPay (payment processing)
- Philippine International Convention Center (venue)
- Accommodation partners (only if you opt into hotel booking services)
- Technology providers (congress app, virtual platform, if applicable)
All service providers are bound by data processing agreements and are prohibited from using your data for their own purposes.
7.3 Sponsors & Exhibitors
Your personal data will only be shared with Congress sponsors and exhibitors if you provide explicit opt-in consent during the registration process. If you consent, only your name, organisation, and country of origin will be shared. Sponsors are contractually prohibited from selling, sharing, or repurposing delegate data beyond the stated purpose, in accordance with the APDW 2026 Sponsorship Terms & Conditions.
7.4 Affiliated Societies
Limited data (name, country, registration category) may be shared with the constituent societies of APDW (APAGE, APSDE, APASL, ISDS) for the purposes of membership verification and society-specific programme administration.
7.5 Legal & Regulatory
We may disclose personal data where required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or where necessary to protect the rights, safety, or property of the LOC, delegates, or the public.
8. International Data Transfers
As an international congress drawing delegates from over 40 countries, your personal data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including the Philippines (congress venue), Singapore (PCO office), and countries where our technology service providers operate.
Where personal data is transferred outside the EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission, adequacy decisions, or other legally recognised transfer mechanisms.
For transfers from the Philippines, we comply with the requirements of the National Privacy Commission (NPC) regarding cross-border data transfers.
9. Data Retention
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected:
- Registration and delegate data: Retained for up to 3 years after the Congress for post-event administration, continuing education credit verification, and legitimate follow-up, after which it is securely deleted or anonymised
- Financial and transaction data: Retained for 7 years as required by Philippine tax and accounting regulations
- Abstract and award data: Retained by the APDWF for historical and programme continuity purposes
- Website analytics data: Retained for up to 2 years in anonymised/aggregated form
- Marketing consent records: Retained for as long as the consent remains active, plus 1 year after withdrawal
At the conclusion of the Congress, all delegate data is transferred to the APDWF in accordance with Foundation guidelines.
10. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction, including:
- Encryption of data in transit (SSL/TLS) and at rest
- Access controls limiting data access to authorised personnel on a need-to-know basis
- Secure payment processing through PCI-DSS compliant providers
- Regular security assessments of our systems and processes
- Data processing agreements with all third-party service providers
- Staff training on data protection and confidentiality obligations
While we take all reasonable precautions, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your personal data.
11. Cookies & Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience and analyse website traffic.
Types of Cookies Used
- Strictly Necessary Cookies: Required for the website and registration portal to function. These cannot be disabled.
- Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences (e.g. language, session state). Enhance user experience.
- Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website (e.g. Google Analytics). Data is collected in anonymised/aggregated form.
You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.
12. Your Data Protection Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you have the following rights regarding your personal data
12.1 Under the Philippines Data Privacy Act of 2012
- Right to be informed about the collection and processing of your personal data
- Right to object to the processing of your personal data
- Right to access your personal data held by the LOC
- Right to rectification of inaccurate or incomplete data
- Right to erasure or blocking of personal data
- Right to damages for violations of the Data Privacy Act
- Right to lodge a complaint with the National Privacy Commission (NPC)
12.2 Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- Right of access (Article 15)
- Right to rectification (Article 16)
- Right to erasure / right to be forgotten (Article 17)
- Right to restriction of processing (Article 18)
- Right to data portability (Article 20)
- Right to object to processing (Article 21)
- Right not to be subject to automated decision-making (Article 22)
- Right to withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing
- Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority in your EU member state
12.3 Under the Singapore Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA)
- Right to access personal data held about you
- Right to correction of errors or omissions in your personal data
- Right to withdraw consent for the collection, use, or disclosure of your personal data
- Right to lodge a complaint with the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC)
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 14. We will respond to your request within 30 days (or such shorter period as required by applicable law).
13. Children’s Privacy
The APDW 2026 Congress and website are not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, please contact us immediately and we will take steps to delete such data.
14. Contact Information
For questions, requests, or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal data, please contact:
APDW 2026 Congress Secretariat (Data Protection)
Email: privacy@apdw2026manila.com
General enquiries: info@apdw2026manila.com
Postal address:
- APDW 2026 Congress Secretariat
- c/o Wizlink Consulting, Singapore
- 2 Venture Drive,
- #06-25, Vision Exchange
- Singapore 608526
If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection authority in your jurisdiction.
15. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or Congress operations. The updated policy will be posted on our website with the revised “Last Updated” date. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Material changes will be communicated to registered delegates via email.
General Enquiries
Venue
Philippine International Convention Center
CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd, Manila
Congress Dates
24–28 November 2026
