Is Cebu ready for ASEAN summit? Suzzane Salva-Alueta Cebu Daily News
November 14, 2006
Cebu residents will get a first taste of the magnitude of December’s international summit when the main routes of visiting dignitaries will be closed for several hours on November 25, Saturday, as part of a traffic “dry run”.
The public can expect some inconvenience, which Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said was a necessary pain.
Traffic will come to a standstill along the “ceremonial route” between two plush hotels, cutting through the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu. Cars parked along the route risk being towed away.
The dry run staged by police authorities is part of the preparations for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on December 11-14.
“This time you will be able to see the impact of closing the roads from morning and opening it in the middle of the day and closing it in the afternoon,” said Chief Superintendent Silverio Alarcio Jr., regional police chief and head of the summit’s security task force.
“It's like a dress rehearsal,” he added.
Police will simulate the movements of heads of states and other foreign officials whose convoy of BMW cars will speed through empty streets that are shut down two hours prior to their actual travel, as required by security protocol.
Personnel preparedness and equipment, including radio communication, would also be tested on that day.
Main roads from the Marco Polo Plaza in Nivel Hills, Cebu City down to the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City and the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City form the ceremonial route.
“That is part of our series of dry runs until early December. If there's a need to re-do the entire simulation we will do it, we will have a re-take of the traffic simulation. At least the public would get to have the feeling of the actual traffic problems during the ASEAN,” Alarcio said.
Anticipating the disruptions on the road, Governor Garcia advised people to be prepared and to reschedule visits or appointments on that day in the affected routes.
“We suggest that in order to avoid these irritations of getting stalled, waiting for hours and hours, getting caught up in enormous traffic jams, perhaps you can visit Cebu or the three cities some other time. It would still be there anyway after the summit,” she said.
Garcia said she anticipates some criticism over the inconvenience.
“I can already foresee those who would like to nit-pick. You see, no pain, no gain. Let’s look at the bigger picture, the huge economic impact this will have in the island of Cebu. Think outside of ourselves, just for these few days,” she said.
“For these few days will spell the opportunity of a century for Cebu. I ask all fellow Cebuanos to put the greater good above one’s self. It's not about you, it's not about me. It's all about us and the future,” she said.
AFFECTED ROADS: CEBU CITY: Veteran’s Drive, Salinas Drive, Juan Luna Ave. (San Jose dela Montaña), S. Osmeña Road. MANDAUE CITY: United Nations Avenue, C.D. Seno Street, Plaridel Street, Ouano Avenue LAPU-LAPU CITY: Punta Engaño Road
