Expect rerouting, heavy traffic: ASEAN meet security in place

CEBU, Philippines – From time to time, rerouting of public utility jeepneys and private cars will be implemented starting July 1 to July 7, for the security and safety of the participants of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings here in Cebu.

With this, City Councilor David Tumulak, deputy mayor on police matters, asked the patience and understanding of the motorists and commuters for the success of the meetings.

“All preparations are in place na. Duna tay augmentation from the National Capital Region (NCR) nga moabot which is comprised of K9 dogs and handlers and Explosive Ordnance Disposal team,” he said.

Affected roads for the rerouting are S. Osmeña Boulevard and Pope John Paul II Avenue, and roads near Radisson Blu hotel where the meetings will be held.

Tumulak said there will be several traffic enforcers that will be deployed in the streets to assist the affected motorists and commuters.

Cebu City Transportation Office Operations Chief Francisco Ouano said there is no rerouting of vehicles yet.

For now, he said the initial agreement is to stop the public utility jeepneys and allow vehicles ferrying ASEAN participants to pass through the roads.

He said he will coordinate with Tumulak on his pronouncement.

As for the security measures, he said the city government is coordinating with the Cebu City Police Office, Maritime Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Mobile Patrol Group and other police units to help maintain public order and safety during the ministerial meetings.

Some 30 strategic response units from the NCR will be deployed, while 19 emergency vehicles, along with fire trucks and special rescue vehicles will also be dispatched.

“There are international delegates that will visit the heritage and tourist destinations of the city,” he said.

So far, he said there are no threats gathered in the intelligence units of the police.

Tumulak said there are seven hotels in the city where international delegates will stay.

With this, he asked these hotels to allow police officers to enter their premises to secure the area.

As for the “bomb alarm” during the inter-agency meeting last Tuesday, Tumulak said it showed how the agencies would react to alarms.

“Nakita nato nga naay delay ang pag-respond, maong we need to strengthen the preparation gyod. Anytime, dapat naay prepositioned na nga mga responding teams,” he said.

Tumulak said it was a good drill and an “eye opener” to authorities.

The Department of Health (DOH)-7 has alerted several hospitals, raising the “code white alert” today just before the start of the ASEAN meetings from July 1 to 7 in Cebu.

Dr. Shelbay Blanco, cluster head of DOH-7 Health Emergency Management Staff, said with “code white alert” status in place, selected hospitals are instructed to be ready to act to respond to any emergency situation.

DOH-7 has formed Task Force Hospital that composes of at least nine private and DOH-retained hospitals such as Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center that will serve as referrals.

Also today, about 200 medical personnel organized into teams will be deployed to their respective staging areas strategically positioned within the tri-cities.

Blanco said the deployment of these teams goes alongside with the prepositioning of ambulances and other medical equipment.

But before the deployment, he said there will be an orientation with the representatives from the referral hospitals in the morning and another one for the Emergency Medical Services teams in the afternoon.

On Friday, June 30, there will be a transport dry-run, table top and simulation exercises.

He said DOH-7 decided to put up these measures ahead of the ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting that starts on July 1.

He said the regional office has also reactivated its central operation center that is being set up at DOH-7 office.

All safety and security measures slated for the ASEAN meeting is in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense-7 and the Philippine National Police, he added.

Blanco said these staging areas and all command centers will be operational for 24 hours with the staff working on shifts.

He said DOH has earmarked a budget of around P5 million that was used for the preparations and will be utilized for ground work. —/GAN (FREEMAN)