CEBU CITY—Security forces brought to this city a halt yesterday as they geared up for two Asian summits this week that were postponed amid foul weather and terror alerts last month.
Police used helicopter flights, surveillance cameras, and hundreds of patrol officers as they carried out test runs of the high-security travel around Cebu for the 16 leaders that will gather for the Asean and East Asia summits.
The government called off the meetings at the last minute in December, citing a coming typhoon even though weather officials said the storm should not be a disruption. Several other nations had issued terrorism warnings instead.
“We were ready then—we are even more ready now,” said Marciano Paynor of the summit organizing committee. “I think there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that we will be able to host this summit successfully.”
The abrupt cancellation was a setback for the Philippines, which was also embarrassed by leaks in the new purpose-built convention center and widespread skepticism after the storm hit far away from the summit site.
Along with the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the meetings will also bring together prime ministers and top officials from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard, a close United States ally whose government’s travel warning for Cebu last month remains in effect, still plans to arrive on Sunday, his spokesman said.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Monday that going ahead with the meetings this week “will sustain the momentum in our collective fight against terror and in mopping up all forms of instability” that affect the region.
The Southeast Asian bloc’s first-ever legally binding agreement on counterterrorism is one of several key deals due to be signed during the Jan. 11 to 15 meetings.
Asean is also expected to announce a blueprint for establishing the bloc’s charter and try to move up plans for a regional free-trade zone by 2015.
The related East Asia Summit, which brings together Asean and the other six attending nations, will look to make progress on establishing energy security across the region.
Despite the one-month postponement, workers were still busily trying to put the finishing touches on the P500-million Cebu convention center, where loose wiring was still visible through missing ceiling tiles.
In December, rain poured through the lighting fixtures and other places on the roof, even dumping water on the lone x-ray machine that was put in place to screen bags and parcels.
With the top officials set to be cloistered in a deluxe hotel cut off from access to the press, security officials made two dry runs with brand-new government limousines to simulate travel through the heart of Cebu.
“There are no specific [terror] threats to the summit,” said retired Gen. Leo Alvez, the official in charge of security for the summit organizers.
The tests brought traffic to a standstill as security officials traversed main roads between major venue sites and hotels to be used for the meetings.
Foreign and trade ministers will start arriving today, while the leaders begin flying in on Thursday.
Britain and Canada also still have travel warnings for Cebu, citing possible terrorist attacks. But the organizing committee’s Paynor played down those alerts.
“Travel advisories are something that individual countries unilaterally decide on to protect their citizens,” he said. “Everyone who needs to be here will be here.”
Re: No terror attack in 12th Asean Summit
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