GMA names envoy to Canada as DFA usec

President Arroyo has appointed Ambassador to Canada Francisco Benedicto as undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and tasked him with spearheading preparations for the ASEAN+3 Summit in Cebu in 2007.

Government Mass Media Group head Secretary Cerge Remonde said the preparations for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) event must begin early to ensure the event’s success in Cebu.

Remonde said over radio station dzRB that Benedicto, a Cebuano, will be recalled from Canada soon to assume his new position. Remonde is also Cebuano.

He said Benedicto’s promotion is another source of pride for the people of Cebu province.

Remonde said the decision was reached during a meeting of officials accompanying the President at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Busan, South Korea.

Remonde likened Cebu to Busan — the second next important city in South Korea after Seoul. Cebu is considered the second most important city in the Philippines.

"This early, we have to prepare because that is a very important event for Cebu," he said.

Last April, the President said she wanted the ASEAN+3 Summit to take place in Clark, Pampanga. However, by late October, she had changed her mind and decided to hold the summit in Cebu.   

Next year, it will be the Philippines’ turn to host the summit between ASEAN member-nations and their three partner countries — Japan, China and South Korea.

"It’s going to be a great summit, not only for ASEAN, but also for us, because Cebu is what we want to showcase," the President earlier said.

Mrs. Arroyo noted the rise of new hotels in the province and urged local officials to build more tourism facilities.

With all its resources, infrastructure and tourism facilities, Cebu has become a "strong island" and could be the "model for a strong republic," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo also said Cebu had become a magnet for tourists, citing rising tourist arrivals. — Aurea Calica