"Gobernator" invites Gwen to LA summit

CEBU, Philippines - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has invited Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to attend the global summit on climate change in Los Angeles next month.

In his letter to Garcia, Schwarzenegger said the threat posed by climate change knows no geographic bounds.

“Although we are separated by many miles, we are united in our duty as government leaders to address a common challenge that knows no geographic bounds: climate change. It is a global threat that demands a global response,” Schwarzenegger said in his letter.

The Governor’s Global Climate Summit, which will be held from September 30 to October 2, will try to achieve a collaborative action in the fight against climate change.

The actor-turned-politician, who earned a nickname “Gobernator” for his leading role in “Terminator” movies, has taken steps against global warming since last year.

He would be co-hosting the multi-day summit together with other United States governors in partnership with the United Development Programme.

Schwarzenegger told Garcia that “the collective commitment by governments, corporations, non-profit corporations and academic institutions to fight this threat will lead us to solutions that will protect our environment and stimulate our economies.”

Garcia confirmed that she would be attending the summit.

“It was a great honor to be invited as Cebu has already been in the radar screen of the rest of the world,” Garcia told reporters yesterday.

She is expected to speak before 1,000 participants from various organizations and institutions around the world on climate change.

Aside from the United States, Garcia will also visit Indonesia and China in the coming months to attend important events.

In Bali, Indonesia, Garcia will speak at the 5th Annual FutureGov, formerly the Government Technology Summit, on the future of local governance.

Savita Varma, head of conferences and research of FutureGov, sent a letter to Garcia informing her that the summit will feature a series of case-study presentations before senior government information technology officials from Asia-Pacific region. The summit will have guest speakers from North America and Europe.

Aside from Garcia, Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary Fortunato dela Peña will also attend the event, which will take place from October 7 to 9.

Gu Xiulian, president of the China ASEAN Association, also wrote Garcia inviting her to visit China as part of the effort strengthening the ties between the Philippines and China.

“Madame, the natural sceneries of Cebu gave me a deep impression as well as its warm, hospitable and hardworking people,” said Gu, who recently visited at the Cebu Provincial Capitol.

“These memories will always remind us not just only the trip to your beautiful province, but the cordial feeling from the Philippine people to the Chinese people and the long term friendship between us,” Gu added. — /LPM   (THE FREEMAN)