|
Friday, August 11, 2006
Arroyo, CEOs from Apec in Cebu meeting
Security in Cebu will be tight in the next three days with the arrival of President Arroyo, foreign dignitaries and corporate leaders for the three-day APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) meeting.
Among other activities, Arroyo and ABAC delegates will witness the first demonstration on the use of ethanol as alternative bio-diesel at the Shangri-la’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.
The President is scheduled to arrive at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base (MBEAB) at 9:30 this morning and will proceed to Shangri-la for the formal opening of the meeting, which carries the theme: Revisiting “APEC Means Business.”
Security measures for the event have been in place since Wednesday, Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Vicente Loot said.
He told reporters yesterday that his policemen are ready to secure some 300 delegates and their families during the conference.
Police have called the event a dry run for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in December.
Loot assured the weather will not keep the police from providing security to the delegates, saying his policemen know they have a job to do regardless of the weather condition.
All security details were already at the venue since Wednesday while support groups took their posts yesterday morning.
Security is tight since ambassadors from Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan and New Zealand are also expected to attend the event.
Other guests include world economists Professor Jagdish Bhagwati of Columbia University, Supachai Panitchpakdi, secretary general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) former Phiilippine president Fidel Ramos, Cathay Pacific chief operations officer Tony Tyler and Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corp. chairman Stuart Guilliver.
Arroyo will be joined by five Cabinet members, including Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, Department of Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Ambassador and ABAC Chairman Roberto Romulo, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Government Media Group Head Cerge Remonde.
The delegates began arriving last Wednesday.
Aside from the venue, police will also be securing hotels and tourist spots in the province in case delegates and their families decide to take a tour of Cebu.
Shangri-la’s General Manager Tim Wright is said to have prepared a reception for the President while Peter Daniel, the president of Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, will give a welcome party.
During the demonstration on the use of ethanol, Daniel will announce the start of his investments in exporting alternative engine oil to Asian countries.
Arroyo is also scheduled to have separate exclusive interviews with Singapore Bloomberg Television chief reporter Haslinda Amin and International Herald Tribune senior regional business reporter Don Greenlees.
At 1:30 p.m. today, a closed-door advisory meeting with ABAC officials and head of the delegations of ABAC’s 10th anniversary conference will be held. (AIV/MEA)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 11, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
