City may not be able to add more 'color' to summit route

President Arroyo had expressed that she wants more "color" along the ceremonial route of the ASEAN Summit, but Mayor Tomas Osmeña commented that with barely two weeks before the event, Cebu City might not be able to fulfill the President's wish.

Osmeña explained it took months for the city to actually grow the plants along the city's center islands in roads that are part of the ceremonial route. Aside from this, the flowering plants were also difficult to grow considering the hot weather.

Even before the summit's original schedule last December 10 to 14, the plants in the center islands have already started wilting.

Osmeña said the city's Parks and Playgrounds Commission still has a remaining budget of half a million pesos but the problem is that the supplier of the plants may no longer have available plants left for just a very short notice. Usually at this time, Osmeña said, plants have already been reserved for other buyers.

While traversing the ceremonial route on her way to the Cebu IT Park the other day, Arroyo noticed the lack of color in the landscaping and recommended to add more color to the landscaping in both the ceremonial route and the Most Important Person lounge inside the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano had said that the President also recommended that more electric posts be put near Uniwide at the North Reclamation Area.

Osmeña's sentiments are, however, contrary to the remarks of Linda Ouano, head of the Mandaue City beautification committee, who said that the more than two weeks left before the summit is enough to address Arroyo's concern.

Like Cebu City, Mandaue City has already completed its summit beautification program but Ouano said they may have to spend for flowering plants to add color to the United Nations Avenue located at the foot of the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

The ASEAN Summit National Organizing Committee announced the postponement of the summit barely 48 hours before typhoon Seniang was to hit Cebu island and other islands in the Visayas. The NOC cited the typhoon as primary reason for the postponement amid speculations that the same was due to terror threats.

Although the typhoon turned to have bigger effect on the northern part of Cebu, Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., Secretary General of the NOC, said that if Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu would have been in the same situation as the nearby city of Tacloban in Leyte, which had a major power outage, it would have been devastating for Cebu with the 18 heads of state and governments around.

And even with 15 heads of state confirming to attend the summit's resumption next month, Osmeña said last week the city's plan to hold an advanced Sinulog event exclusively for the leaders may no longer push through.

The NOC has reportedly been mum about the city's offer, thus there is no reason for him to "force the issue". Aside from this, there is no longer enough time to prepare for it. The mayor earlier proposed that the city will gather the best contingents of last year's Mardi Gras Festival for an exclusive show for the heads of state days before the formal Sinulog activities. - Joeberth M. Ocao