Security alert on as Davao City hosts 3 EAGA events

DAVAO CITY — The police and the military have beefed up security in this city which will host three important international events this week,

One of the three events is the 11th Senior Officials and Ministers’ Meeting of the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines—East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) geo-economic grouping.

"We have made the necessary security arrangements for the important meetings in coordination with the proper agencies and groups. We are working closely with the police," said Army Maj. Orlando Suarez, executive officer of the military-led Task Force Davao.

Close to 300 foreign delegates, including the economic ministers and businessmen of the four EAGA member-countries, are expected to attend the series of meetings.

"We cannot afford not to take the necessary precautions in ensuring the security of the delegates," said Suarez.

Security has been a major concern in the BIMP-EAGA meeting in the light of the powerful blasts that struck this city last March and April that left 39 people dead and over 200 others wounded.

Officials of the private sector-led East ASEAN Business Council (EABC) kicked off their meetings at the Marco Polo Hotel yesterday.

The Mindanao Trade Exhibit 2003, meanwhile, is slated on Sept. 11-14 at the Central Bank Convention Center. Traders from various parts of the EAGA will take part in the exposition.

EAGA, which encompasses a market of over 50 million consumers, is comprised of the subnational economies of East Indonesia, East Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Mindanao and Palawan. — Edith Regalado