Monday, November 27, 2006 Mongaya: Asean holiday By Anol Mongaya Panahom
WHILE Cebu officials tussle over the four-day Asean holiday proposal of Mayor Tomas Osmeña to transform Metro Cebu into a ghost town in the interest of security, PNP Chief Oscar Calderon says let the crowds come.
According to Calderon, it is a matter of educating the public in Cebu on how to act during the Asean summit when 17 heads of state will be here for four days.
However, I think each establishment especially those in the Mactan Export Zone and along the ceremonial routes should plan things out with their employees to avoid dislocation during the summit.
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With the focus on the Asean summit, even the local media has not noticed the arrival of some 1,200 doctors from various Asian countries for the Asia-Pacific Digestive Week Congress at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel.
The doctors include Nobel winners and renowned medical experts from Asia-Pacific countries. They’re here not only to exchange views and discuss medical issues. They are also here to get a taste of our world-renowned beaches.
Talking about beaches, I met a member of a Cebuano band now playing in a luxury cruise ship in the Caribbean and Latin American when he was on a vacation recently. He told me the beaches in Cebu are a lot better than those his cruise ship visited.
With the international attention we will be getting as a result of the Asean summit and the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), an author on promoting Asian places said more international gatherings will be held in Cebu.
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Aside from heads of states, top government officials, journalists, UN officials and staff, and officials of big corporations, we should also expect international activists coming over to Cebu for the summit.
In particular, I expect activists who will protest the recognition of Myanmar, which is now under military dictatorship.
If the Philippines, which is supposedly a bulwark of democracy in Asia, uses strong-arm methods to prevent international activists from conducting their protests, what will distinguish us from our authoritarian neighbors?
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But this does not mean our security forces should not be up on their toes against terrorists. Thus, I’m glad that the LTO will introduce a tracking system that can trace vehicles whose ownership is under suspicion.
Assistant Secretary Reynaldo I. Berroya, LTO chief, said they will input into the system motor vehicle data, driver’s license data, traffic violation records, and information on whether a vehicle is stolen or not.
Under the system, the owner can access data on a vehicle he suspects to have been used in the commission of a crime, simply by texting the plate number.
Berroya said the system will be useful during the Asean summit next month, in support of measures to prevent terrorist activities.
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Cebu City Councilor Edgardo Labella wants education officials to campaign against the popular “watusi.”
I think a more effective way would be to go after the manufacturers of watusi so there won’t be any supply. If officials limit themselves to conducting information drives, the kids will all the more buy watusi.
But come to think of it. Compared to other pyrotechnic products, watusi is relatively safe to use. One only needs to rub the watusi hard or even step on it. Wouldn’t it be better if education officials will teach children how to use watusi properly?
(superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol.blogs.friendster.com/anols_blog)
