Hotel room shortage looms during summit

The Department of Tourism expects shortage of hotel rooms during the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in December as some 10,000 delegates from member countries are expected to flock to Cebu for the event.

DOT said it already informed hotels and resorts in Cebu not to accept bookings for the month of November until the end of the summit by mid-December so as not to compromise the accommodation of delegates from participating nations.

With the expected volume of tourists coming in, Cebu's local economy is projected to get a big boost as each delegate is estimated to spend US$200 a day for meals and other miscellaneous expenses during their stay.

DOT regional director Patria Aurora Roa said the expected 10,000 delegates to the summit would come in staggered batches as the issue on whether Cebu can provide the needed accommodation cropped up.

In a press release, Roa said the Business Leaders Meeting will be held first so participants comprising business executives will arrive ahead and will leave after the meeting to pave the way for the other batches that will participate in the summit proper.

The new groups would include the regional technical working group, delegates from the 17 participating-nations and the international media who will cover the summit.

It is estimated that over 1,000 foreign journalists will flock to Cebu for the international event, aside from the national, local and other provincial media.

Also, to promote public awareness on the significance of the summit, the Cebu City government will unveil the digital countdown marker at the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda tomorrow. The activity is the culmination of the 39th ASEAN Foundation Week, which is scheduled from August 7-11.

The city government will also post 300 streamers on the summit in key public areas.

Police, on the other hand, will augment their forces as early as September in preparation of the event.

Police regional director C/Supt. Silverio Alarcio said that they are currently reviewing their anti-criminality program to ensure the safety of the summit participants. - Wenna A. Berondo/LPM