APEC Summit Organizers Meet Cebu Officials to Discuss Concerns

(PNA) — Organizers of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) Summit later this year Tuesday met with officials of the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu and the Cebu provincial government to discuss the various concerns during the summit.

Ambassador Marciano Paynor, who heads the national organizing committee, earlier said Cebu will host 30-40 meetings on Aug. 24-Sept. 11, Oct. 8-10 and Oct. 12-14.

Aside from security, the other concerns include managing flood-prone areas, repairs on the roads delegates are likely to use and the stability of power supply during the events, said Cebu Provincial Tourism officer Mary Grace Paulino.

Ador Canlas, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 director, said he will submit a flood map during the next meeting on July 6 among Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III and the mayors of the three cities.

Canlas said it stopped all road excavations at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

All road works will be suspended a week before August, to resume after APEC events, it said.

Lawyer Ramil Abing, assistant Cebu provincial administrator, said they will also study the possible declaration of local holidays during the APEC events.

Joy Tumulak, operations division chief of the Cebu City Traffic Operations and Management (Citom), presented during the meeting a proposed traffic plan for Cebu City during the APEC events.

Tumulak said their will also consider the implementation of the color-coding and number-coding scheme as proposed by APEC coordinator Lito Maderazo.

Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 said all areas in Central Visayas, not only conference and billeting sites, will be covered by security.

Lawas showed the 89 most visited tourism areas in Central Visayas.

He also said that the PNP has requested additional personnel from other regions during the APEC events. (PNA) FFC/RCK/EB/EDS