INSTEAD of pointing fingers on who should take the blame for the hostage-taking in Manila, an official of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCCI) in Cebu yesterday asked stakeholders to work together to come up with strategies to rise from the crisis.
Filomeno Lim, FCCCI president, said the effects of the incident on tourism and economic are temporary.
The government, however, has to double its effort to recover from the setback, Lim said.
But Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia received an invitation to attend the 2nd China-Asean Women Entrepreneurs’ Start up Forum in Liuzhou City, Guangxi Autonomous Region on Sept. 15 to 17.
Garcia said the invitation from China is more meaningful since it came at a time when the country was placed in a bad light with the hostage-taking in Manila, where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed by a Filipino ex-policeman.
“This sends a message that our ties are stronger, and they will remain strong in spite of setbacks,” Garcia said.
The theme of the forum is “Win-Win Cooperation and Common Development” and it is expected to draw 350 government officials, diplomatic envoys, women entrepreneurs, scholars, representatives of international friendship organizations and commercial chambers, among others.
Garcia conveyed her “deepest appreciation” for the invitation but she needs to attend the East Asia Tourism Forum (Eatof) in Quang Ninh, Vietnam on the same date.
She said she cannot skip the event this year because Cebu Province will be hosting the Eatof next year.
The governor was also invited for the second time and was asked this year to co-host the Governor’s Global Climate Summit 3 which will be held at the Modavi Center at the University of California on Nov. 15 to 16.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also invited Garcia to be a founding member of R20-Regions of Climate Action, an international organization that combats climate change.
The event will provide an opportunity for the Pacific Coast Collaborative (PCC) leaders to meet.
It was also stated in the invitation that in the February meeting, the members agreed to name Garcia as the next PCC leader in November.
Meanwhile, FCCCI’s Lim, who was one of the panelists during yesterday’s Kapihan sa PIA, pointed out the need for the police to maintain peace and order in Cebu.
Acting Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Erson Digal assured the police are on top of the situation.
He said the police have institutionalized the creation of tourist cops, who are now being deployed in the different spots in the province.
There are 20 tourist police officers but the provincial police is planning to train another batch of tourist cops, Digal said.
The police official advised all tour agencies not to allow hitchhikers to board buses and be cautious of unscrupulous persons who will victimize buses in the guise of a police checkpoint.
He said legitimate police checkpoints are those that are held in well-lit areas, with complete signs and uniformed personnel. There is also a patrol car on standby.
Rowena Montecillo of the Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 said the agency is willing to teach the police the protocol in handling foreign tourists.
Montecillo said the DOT has already felt the effect of last week’s incident in Manila.
As part of marketing efforts, the DOT scheduled a sales mission to China.
Mactan Cebu international Airport Public Affairs Manager Ahmed Cuizon, who also attended the forum yesterday, said so far there has been no decrease in the international arrivals in Cebu.
They also did not note any cancellation of flights, Cuizon said.