Cebu now ‘ready’ for 2015 APEC

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu is now prepared to host a series of ministerial meetings as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation  Summit in the country next year.

Cebu Provincial Tourism Officer Grace Paulino said the province has already checked the hotels and resorts where the delegates will be billeted, as well as the venues of the ministerial meetings, and everything is found to be satisfactory.

The APEC member-countries’ finance ministers will have their meetings in September 2015, while the energy and transportation ministers will have theirs in October next year.

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said preliminary meetings with the private sector and concerned government agencies were already conducted.

Sixty Capitol, Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City employees who would serve as guides of APEC delegates were also made to undergo training at the country’s Foreign Service Institute.

Davide said the province is also ready to serve as alternate venue for the heads of state meeting in December 2015 primarily set in Legazpi City, Albay.

It was earlier reported that Cebu has been chosen as alternate venue for the APEC senior officials meeting as the threat of Mayon Volcano erupting may disrupt the event.

Davide said international conferences also serve as avenues for the province to attract foreign investors, which is why Cebu is really preparing.

The Philippines, an APEC member for the past 25 years, last hosted an APEC summit in 1996.

Yesterday, a coordination meeting attended by the Department of Energy Undersecretary Loreta Ayson was held at the Capitol to prepare for the energy ministers meeting.

Ayson requested the concerned local government units to beef up security for the series of APEC meetings in Cebu, considering that there will be around 500 delegates of the international conference.

Senior Superintendent Conrado Capa, Police Regional Office-7 deputy director for operation, on the other hand, said a security plan has already been crafted based on the security template of the APEC national organizing committee and already took into consideration security at the airport, site and venue, convoy security, and crowd control.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Police Coordinating and Advisory Council Chairman and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella yesterday urged the City Council  to comply with the Department of Interior and Local Government directive on the provision of budget on intelligence funds next year.

Labella said the city government has to prepare in terms of peace and order since Cebu City is eyeing to host international events.

He said the DILG circular states that intelligence funds may be sourced from the 30 percent appropriations of peace and order program and three percent of the total annual appropriations.

The city government is preparing for the upcoming international events, particularly the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in 2015 and the 2016 International Eucharistic Congress.

Labella said the request was timely since the council is currently meeting to for the budgeting process.

“The PCAC is urging the City Council because peace and order is important in addition to police visibility, especially that we are in the preparation for the international events,” he said, adding that the events would draw thousands of people to Cebu City.

“We will always assume that the Pope is coming, so we have to be prepared; maong mohangyo ta nga ang atong budget is in accordance with the guidelines,” he said. — (FREEMAN)