Asean summit host Cebu experiencing tourist boom

The 12th Asean Summit in Cebu City is attracting local tourists and the business boom ushered the revival of the so-called CeBoom program that intensified development projects in the province.

"This early, we are already experiencing an increase in local tourism and the opening of various business establishments in the province," said retired Gen. Leo Alvez, chairman of the 12th Asean Summit security committee.

In his report to the Asean National Organizing Committee, Alvez said they already finalized security preparations in the upcoming summit.

Alvez expects to complete all security dry-run over the weekend and they would be ready to secure all delegates, as well as the summit venues and destinations.

He said the prevailing improved peace and order situation in the province, the upbeat attitude of most businessmen, the much improved road and tourist facility conditions, and the hospitality of the Cebuanos are the main ingredients "for us to see a 21st century version of CeBoom."

In can be recalled that in 1988, then Cebu Gov. Lito Osmeña successfully coined the catchy word, "CeBoom" that transformed the southern city into an industrial and commercial complex that actively competed with Metro Manila.

Alvez called on Cebuanos to unite and prevent non-Cebuanos from disrupting the prevailing upbeat atmosphere in the province. The people should not let the Asean Summit to be used by militants as a venue for protest actions.

There are reports that leftist organizations, like the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), are planning to stage protest caravans and fluvial parades that will converge in Cebu during the summit next month.

"We Cebuanos (should) not provide any support to these anti-government protesters and risk rendering useless all the hard work we have put in (place) during all these months of preparations," he said.

Alvez said the summit organizers would allow peaceful demonstrations in selected areas of the city, as he called on everyone to abide by the existing ordinances of the local government units (LGUs).

He also issued a stern warning to those found violating the rule of law that they would be arrested and their vehicles, including motor bancas, confiscated.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Calderon said the final dry run is set on Friday for the security preparations for the Asean Summit to ensure the safety of all the delegates and foreign journalists who would cover the event.

Calderon said there is no specific terrorist threats in Cebu and the security preparations are being handled by three task forces –Task Force Cebu; Task Force Lapu-Lapu and Task Force Alalay.

Chief Superintendent Silverio Alarcio, director of Central Visayas police, reported at the PNP-sponsored weekly forum Talakayan sa Isyu ng Pulis, that the dry run for security preparations for the delegates is set on Dec. 1 from the airport to the hotel and to the summit venues.

Alarcio also said that police deployment in areas to be visited by delegates will start on Nov. 30. He noted that Task Force Cebu is composed of members of the PNP, while Task Force Lapu-Lapu is composed of members of the Presidential Security Group and Task Force Alalay is composed of members of Navy and Marines.

"We are expecting about 5,000 visitors during the summit, 2,500 of them are journalists while the others are all delegates," Alarcio added. — With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Pia Lee-Brago