Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Closure of streets Nov. 25 ‘necessary inconvenience’
THE closure of major roads for a few hours later this month, as part of a traffic dry run, is a “necessary inconvenience” that the public must bear to ensure the security of heads of state and other foreign dignitaries who will coming to Cebu next month, said Senior Supt.Lani-o Nerez.
Checkpoints will also be set up during the summit, but Nerez said these will be organized and done in such a way as to avoid worsening traffic.
The roads mostly affected are Veterans Drive, Salinas Drive, Juan Luna Ave., and Sergio Osmeña Ave., all in Cebu City; Ouano Ave., Plaridel St. and United Nations Ave., all in Mandaue City; and M.L. Quezon St. in Lapu-Lapu City, as well as the Marcelo B. Fernan Bridge.
These roads connect the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) and Mactan-Cebu International Airport to the hotels where the heads of state of the 10 Asean member-countries and their dialogue partners will be billeted.
Marco Polo Hotel, the Cebu City Marriott Hotel, Shangri-la’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa and Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa are some of the hotels were the foreign dignitaries will stay on Dec. 11 to 14.
Nerez, during the 888 News Forum at the Parklane Hotel yesterday, said that rerouting plans for the dry run and for the summit have been prepared.
These were submitted to the three affected local government units for their approval.
Cebu City Police Director Melvin Gayotin said the police stations where the ceremonial routes fall under are the ones designated to secure the areas.
They will be aided by a combined force from the military, Army and the Marines, Gayotin said.
Police Deputy Regional Director for Administration Ronald Roderos, in an ABS-CBN TV Patrol Cebu interview, said the dry run on Nov. 25 is meant to determine “the feel of the traffic problem” that may be experienced during the summit.
Roderos and Gayotin said the task force assigned to handle the rerouting plan will be giving out an advisory to the public.
The test run of road closure during the summit is a necessary security preparation, Nerez said.
“This is not only an affair for the Cebuanos but for all Filipinos,” he said.
The road closure, though, will only be for certain hours of the day or at about the time that dignitaries will be moving to and from the airport, hotels and summit venues.
Cebu City Hall Information Officer Nagiel Bañacia said the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu also need to pass an ordinance authorizing the road closure.
He said protocol requires closure of roads.
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office 7 is expecting more augmentation police, including specialized units, to arrive in Cebu before the end of the month.
Nerez said around 5,000 to 6,000 policemen will provide security for the Asean summit.
He assured, though, that the security task force is organized into 16 task groups to ensure that all security requirements are addressed, including the security of areas outside the summit venues.
As to the proposal to enforce a curfew during the summit, Nerez said they have never entertained such plan.
Police only considered the implementation of the gun ban in summit areas. (ROV/JST)
