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Tuesday, September 02, 2003
Elite units deployed for Armm business congress
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
BUSINESSMEN from the US, Great Britain and Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines-East Asian Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga) are set to attend the two-day 2nd Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm) Business Congress starting Tuesday in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.
This even as the military and police beefed up security not just in Marawi city but in the whole Lanao area for the arrival of hundreds of foreign and local participants for the gathering.
Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Monday said he would be accompanying two American businessmen to Marawi today for the Business Congress.
He said American businessman and chief of party of Growth Equity in Mindanao of United States Agency for International Development (Usaid)Charles Feibel and Robert Barns, also with Usaid, will be participating in this event.
"They will be coming with me as the Usaid is very supportive of this Armm Business Congress," he said.
Dureza said other foreigners might be coming "considering that a lot of embassies have expressed their interest in this private sector affair as it is vital to the economic development of the country and other Southeast Asian countries."
Also chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco), he said the Office of the President is giving this gathering its "full support."
Walk-in participants
Invitation committee head Nasser Sumpaco said there are 500 foreign and local businessmen, representatives, government officials among others who have already confirmed their attendance to the event
He said some will be coming from the Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines-East Asian Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga), US and Britain.
"We are expecting more walk-in participants," he said in a telephone interveiw yesterday.
Sumpaco said the Brunei Chamber of Commerce and Industry and insurance companies from Malaysia and other Muslim countries will be participating in the entire event.
Earlier reports revealed that Office of Lanao del Sur Provincial Gov. Mamintal Adiong, Engr. Lacsasa Pangadapun, president of the Marawi Chamber of Commerce, said some 1,000 local and foreign businessmen are expected to join the two-day congress.
The 2nd Armm Business Congress is a joint undertaking of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm), Province of Lanao del Sur and the Islamic City of Marawi.
It will be held on September 2-3, 2003 at the Provincial Capital Gymnasium with the theme: "Breeding New Opportunities".
Mobile checkpoints
Coordinating organizations and agencies include the Armm Business Council, the Marawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Dept. of Trade and Industry-Armm, the Board of Investments-Armm and the Usaid Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) program.
Meanwhile, Philippine Marines 2nd Infantry Battallion chief Col. Francisco Godina and Task Force Diamond commanding officer Col. Armand Cunanan both said they are now putting up several check-points in the area.
Godina said they are now securing the entire Lanao Lake using their assault seacrafts, mini-amphibians and other fast pump boats loaded with heavy firearms and ammunitions.
Cunanan for his part said he has already deployed several elite groups to secure "entrance/exit points" in the Lanao area.
Provincial police director Aliakbar Bangcola said his men are ready for the whole two-day affair including the succeeding days should the foreigners and other local businessmen stay behind.
He said several mobile checkpoints are now in place and that police visibility has been heightened. However, all three officers said they would be needing the cooperation of the public.
They said people should immediately report any "suspicious movement" in their surroundings. "Kahit na false alarm pala (Even if it will turn up as a fals alarm)," Bangcola said.
(September 2, 2003 issue)
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