EDITORIAL - Are we ready for the Asean summit?

Despite the failure to meet a Nov. 15 construction deadline, the government has vowed to complete the Cebu International Convention Center in time for the annual leaders’ summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next month. Malacañang officials said 91 summit activities would be held at the convention center, which will need an additional P45 million to be rushed into completion.

Construction of the building, originally estimated to cost P450 million, started in April. Aside from structural integrity, the convention center will have to be tested for all the amenities required to host a gathering of international leaders: sound system, air conditioning, toilet facilities, lighting, electricity and water supply.

It’s not just the building that must be ready for the ASEAN summit. There’s the security of all the delegates to worry about throughout their stay. Ten heads of government are attending the summit. Also expected are high-level officials of ASEAN’s dialogue partners as well as representatives of other countries in the Pacific Rim. Is the Philippines ready?

Such international gatherings show the level of development of the host country. Paris and New York can host such gatherings at a moment’s notice, without disruptions in the cities’ day-to-day affairs. Developing countries need more preparation and often make a big production out of such events, constructing new buildings, rerouting traffic and even giving behavioral guidelines to citizens such as refraining from squatting and spitting in public.

Filipinos do not need guidelines on behavior, but the government needs to be reminded that the nation cannot afford to look unprepared for the ASEAN summit. A fiasco over the Cebu International Convention Center can only reinforce international perceptions that nothing ever gets done properly or on time in this country. Many ASEAN delegates will be visiting Manila and will see the NAIA Terminal 3 that is rotting away from disuse. The government should make sure the facilities for the ASEAN summit will not be added to the list of national embarrassments.