ASEAN SUMMIT in CEBU

[tolstoi]

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P100 million plan for Mactan-Cebu airport

Thursday, July 13 2006 @ 07:39 PM BST

Cebu News

A P100 million budget has been presented to improve the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in preparation for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in December.

This will include building a new fully furnished VIP lounge costing P49.5 million.

During a meeting with ambassador Marciano Paynor, secretary general for the 12th Asean Summit, MCIA general manager Adelberto Yap presented the plan to the board of directors for deliberation and approval.

Another P20 million has been proposed for the lighting of an existing ramp at the airbase and P30 million for the purchase of another ramp.

Funding for the improvements, if approved, will come from the national government and the MCIAA.

The main Mactan airport terminal already has an air-conditioned VIP lounge occupying about 200 square meters with furniture donated by Cebu exporters.

However, the new VIP lounge will rise as a separate building near the Benito Ebuen Air Base where aircraft of foreign dignitaries will arrive for the summit in December. The arrangement seeks to avoid disturbing the traffic of commercial flights in the airport.

Notices inviting bidders for the P49.5 million VIP lounge were published in local newspapers here on Tuesday.

The original plan to expand the airport ramp space was scrapped by the MCIAA board which decided to use the existing ramps at the nearby Mactan Benito Ebuen Airbase.

"We made a very strong stand though that since the military ramp would now be used for parking of these aircraft, then certainly there will be no more resuscitation of a dead contract and I refer to the airport expansion which is riddled with serious deformities," said Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

"I will seriously object to the continuation of that P100 million project which will come out of the funds of the MCIAA especially since there are serious questions as regards cost estimates, volumes, authenticity of documents, among others," she said. (PNA)

[tolstoi]

Hotel to add 229 rooms on full opening in September

The full operation of Cebu Parklane International Hotel in September will provide 229 additional rooms in Cebu, a hotel official said.

For now, though, the 18-story Cebu Parklane, which announced its soft opening last Wednesday, has 72 guest rooms.

Nevertheless, the hotel has accepted bookings for the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in December, said Cebu Parklane general manager Rey Fuentes.

Cebu Parklane is owned by Cebuano company Five Power Venture Development Corp. of Manuel Ting and family. It sits on a property at the corner of Archbishop Reyes Ave. and Escario St., across Ayala Center Cebu.

Fuentes said 50 percent of the currently available 72 guest rooms are occupied by Japanese guests.

He said Parklane International is positioning itself as a business hotel catering to the hotel needs of traveling businessmen.

“We want to be the most uniquely hip business hotel in town and be an additional come-on for investors to visit, explore investment opportunities and finally, invest in Cebu,” he said.

Aside from 72 rooms, Manuel’s restaurant located on the first floor of the hotel is already operational. Another restaurant, Basil’s Poolside Bar and Grill, will also be ready within the month.

Cebu Parklane will also have souvenir and specialty shops, gym and spa and a music lounge. The hotel will house a suite on every floor and one penthouse suite. (JBN)

[omad]

update:

Saturday, July 15, 2006
People must leave city during summit: Tomas

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña urged President Arroyo to stand by her declaration to have the four-day holiday in December, even if local businessmen may lobby to have the holidays during the Asean summit cancelled.

Osmeña said it is crucial for the President to keep the holidays since the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meeting will be a high-risk event.

Even after Proclamation 1032 was signed last March 10, Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr. said local businessmen who are against the holidays may still write to the President so the national organizing committee of the summit can deliberate and make amendments, if necessary.

Proclamation 1032 declares Dec. 11, 12, 13 and 14 as special non-working days in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

Last Thursday, however, Paynor, Asean national organizing committee chairman, told Cebu’s industry leaders to put their objections in writing and submit a position paper to the committee.

Committee members could then deliberate on the information, and move for Arroyo to amend the declaration, if necessary.

Provincial Board Member Victor Maambong supports the move to reconsider the four-day holiday for the Asean summit. He plans to again rally the board to take a stand against it.

Maambong, whose district includes Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities where industries abound, initiated a resolution against the holidays last March but the PB deferred action on the matter.

His colleagues had wanted to “get more inputs” about the issue before taking a stand early this year. But their action was overtaken by the President’s declaration.

full story

[moniks]

what will the government of cebu will do this coming asean summit?
specially our mayor?

[omad]

no need to open a new thread, you can read and discuss all updates re this topic here

have anice day :mrgreen:

[M@rv|n]

kinsa imong mayor? c thadeo? ... hahaha nag ihap nana cya kng pila iyang ma bulsa ana nag huna huna sad na cya kng asa niya ibutang iyang nawong sa CICC

kng c tomas imong mayor ... perti jud niya pamugos sa 4 day holiday ... which is favor jud kaau ko

[istoryador]

I am really concerned if Cebu is ready for the hosting of this event. This early Osmena has been proposing such abnormal schemes as declaring holiday. I think he is trying to hide the real situation of Cebu. He wants to portray order, like less traffic among them. He wants to show Cebu as an ideal place in Asia. But the cracks will unravel. Delegates would see, there are no mass transport in Cebu like trains and subways. There are less flyovers. The roads are quite narrow.

Osmena too is asking people to forgive himself because the visitors of the summit will be lavished with food and drinks and accoodations. I think Osmena is showing his "Sinulog mentality." I think people from all over Asean dont come here just to indulge in eating, drinking or whatever. People come here to talk about business. Osmena should be concerned about telecommunication facilities, IT capabilities, manpower resource of Cebu and RP as a whole.

I dont know I dont want to pass judgment but I find Tom O's act kind of weird right now.

[baron]

Since ten other countries will be coming here to attend the event, it is but usual for the government officials to be concerned in all of these matters with regard to the upcoming ASEAN Summit. After all, the president wanted to showcase the Philippines' best in this particular event. In any case, we will be holding the chairmanship of the ASEAN for a year beginning next month, which shows that we should facilitate such chairmanship for the benefit of all.

More important is the fact that Cebu is one of the most developed cities in the country. In this case, we can be assured that the ASEAN summit will be secured and full of activities to showcase our assets. It will greatly help in encouraging investors to our country as much as it will enhance our relations with other member countries.

[tolstoi]

@istoryador..concerned citizen daw..haha

anyways..more news about the upcoming ASEAN..

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Asean charter may land Cebu in books
By Jeanette P. Malinao Sun.Star Staff Reporter

Much has been said about the preparations for this December’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Cebu, but what is the meeting’s agenda?

It’s making the charter for the Asean, which has existed for 39 years now without such a document.

Assistant Secretary Luis Cruz of the Department of Foreign Affairs- Office of Asean Affairs confirmed that Cebu’s name will forever be attached to the document, which will include include the phrase “the Cebu Declaration.”

“There’s a group coming up with a blueprint or suggestions on what will be included in the charter. But that’s the beauty of it. When it’s signed, Cebu’s name will be attached,” said Cruz.

The charter, however, is only one of several major documents that will be signed during the gathering, which Cebu is hosting for the first time.

While Philippine Ambassador to the Asean Marciano Paynor Jr. is busy taking care of physical preparations for the summit, being the national organizing committee chairman, Cruz takes care of the “substantive” aspect of the preparations.

[tolstoi]

Summit edges squatters out
By Gingging A. Campaña & Rose O. Verzosa Sun.Star Staff Reporters

Preparations for the gathering of Asean leaders and their guests in December are forcing Cebu and Mandaue City officials to confront the problem of illegal settlers.

Cebu City Hall is willing to relocate 138 informal residents who will get in the way of the road rehabilitation at the North Reclamation Area.

As to where, City Administrator Francisco Fernandez refuses to name the prospective sites yet, as they are still negotiating with the beneficiaries.

Cebu Port Authority (CPA) Commissioner Carlos Co earlier said the settlers and their structures at the ports and within the North Reclamation Area will have to go before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in December.

The CPA has long been planning to remove the illegal occupants to speed up economic development at the Cebu ports and its adjacent private lots.

The Mandaue City Government is grappling with the same problem.

Former city councilor Magno Dionson is concerned about the Mandaue City Hall’s plan to demolish the shanties below the first Mandaue-Mactan bridge before the Asean summit.

In a letter to Mayor Thadeo Ouano last Wednesday, Magno said the City’s rationale for the demolition—security purposes and beautification—is “most unkind and unchristian.”