BMWs, Hondas stars of APEC meet

Top vehicle makers BMW and Honda turned over nearly 100 luxury cars to the government for use in the 12th Asean Leaders’ Summit in Cebu City in December.

The symbolic turnover was held yesterday at the Kalayaan Hall grounds at Malacañang. Receiving some of the 50 BMW 7 Series and 5 Series and 41 Honda Accords were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Ambassador Marciano Paynor, secretary general of the summit’s National Organizing Committee.

Partially state-owned Petron will supply the fuel for the cars.

The summit will be held from Dec. 11-13, during which heads of state from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, plus heads of delegation from six other countries — China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand — will use the vehicles.

The BMW 5 series is priced at around P4 million per unit while the 7 series costs over P7 million each. The Honda Accord costs some P1.5 million each.

BMW Philippines president Dr. Joerg Breuer presented replicas of the luxury car to the officials. He said BMW Philippines will also handle logistical and maintenance support.

"BMW Philippines is honored to support the Republic of the Philippines in making the 12th Asean Summit a success for the country and a source of pride for its people," Breuer said.

Officials said BMW Philippines and the Presidential Security Group will provide special training for the drivers of the limousines.

Officials said the vehicles will later be sold with special discounts after the summit.