Monday, September 01, 2008 All's well for tuna gab, not so for upcoming coop summit
A SCHEDULED gathering in General Santos of cooperative stakeholders across the country in October is fated to be a non-fatal victim of the skirmishes between the government and the Moro rebels after some 1,000 participants reportedly backed out of the event, the city's public information office said.
Ping Aponesto, city information officer, said the reported withdrawal of such a big number of participants was caused by the weeks of fighting that marred several provinces in Mindanao.
The fierce clashes between the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have reportedly left 150 dead combatants and displaced tens of thousands of families.
Earlier, Mayor Pedro B. Acharon Jr. confirmed the city was chosen to host this year's national cooperative summit.
Acharon said they expect around 4,000 cooperative officers and members to attend the event.
"This is not only a tourism opportunity but an affirmation that GenSan's support to the cooperative movement is noted by the national community," the mayor said.
Meantime, it is all systems go for the annual national tuna congress slated next week.
At a press conference late Thursday afternoon, Meriam B. Amerkhan, chair of the programs and resolutions committee for the 10th National Tuna Congress, said the event will push through despite the volatile security condition in Mindanao.
"Our foreign participants have confirmed their attendance. So far, only one delegate decided to withdraw, unfortunately a Filipino," she told reporters.
Organizers expect 300 to 500 foreign and domestic participants to the summit on September 3 to 4.
This year's theme is "Managing our Tuna Resource: Exploring Opportunities and Alternatives."
