The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit will push through as scheduled this week with President Aquino assuring the public that all security precautions are being taken to keep the country safe.
The President has never considered postponing the regional summit and instead ordered increased security especially for the world leaders visiting the country, according to Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
FIRST TO ARRIVE – Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet is greeted by Vice President Jejomar Binay upon her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for a State Visit before joining the leaders of 20 other countries in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Summit slated this week in the country. (John Jerome Ganzon)
“Ang mga tagubilin ng Pangulo ay nakasentro sa pagpapaigting ng paghahandang pang-seguridad kaugnay ng gaganaping APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting sa darating na linggo sa harap ng matinding ligalig bunsod ng Paris terror attacks noong nakaraang Nobyembre 13 (The President’s order was centered on intensifying the security preparations in relation to the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting this week amid concerns arising from the Paris terror attacks last November 13),” Coloma said over government radio.
“The President said it is important to ensure the country is safe for the upcoming summit and assure our countrymen that our military and police are ready and equipped for this week’s important international event where the Philippines is the host,” Coloma added in Filipino.
“All 21 APEC economic leaders are known to have taken a stand against terrorism,” the Palace official added.
President Aquino convened on Saturday the cabinet security cluster to check the country’s security measures and other contingencies ahead of the APEC summit. Aquino said there was “no credible threat” but still asked the public for cooperation and vigilance.
In the meeting with top security officials, Coloma said the President also made sure the country is ready for the hosting of the regional summit, asking authorities to “not overlook any details especially in the aspect of security.”
Coloma added that the President will continue to monitor all aspects of APEC preparations, including the safety of the foreign guests and the rest of the public.
The Philippines is scheduled to host this year’s APEC summit this week that will be attended by US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, among others. Skipping the APEC summit however are Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indonesian President Jojo Widodo who are dealing with domestic concerns.
MEETING WITH APEC LEADERS
The foreign relations skill of President Aquino will be put to the test this week as he is expected to host more than a dozen world leaders attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
But before formally opening the APEC economic leaders’ summit, the President will meet with the leaders of Chile and Mexico early this week during their state visits to the country.
The President will first welcome Chilean President Michelle Bachelet in Malacañang on Monday, November 16, and hold talks on bilateral issues, including closer trade cooperation.
Bilateral talks between President Aquino and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto will be held at the Palace on Tuesday. An air services agreement between the two countries is expected to forged during the visit.
The two Latin American leaders will also attend the APEC gathering in Manila on November 17 to 19.
After the signing of agreements, Coloma said the President will host a state luncheon for the visiting Chilean President and her delegation at the Palace.
From the Palace, the President will make his first APEC engagement, a summit conversation with the business community on “APEC’s Inclusive Growth Imperative” on Monday. The forum will be moderated by CNN Asia Pacific Editor Andew Stevens at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel in Makati City.
On the sidelines of the APEC summit, the President is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe this week. The country’s two strategic allies have earlier called for resolution of the sea dispute through peaceful and legal means.
Based on Aquino’s hectic itinerary, bilateral talks are also scheduled with the leaders of Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, and Peru.
On Tuesday, November 17, the President will deliver an address before the APEC Small Medium Enterprises (SME) summit at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel.
Amid heightened security, Aquino will officially welcome his fellow APEC leaders on November 18 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City. A plenary session with the APEC leaders and APEC business council will be held afterwards.
On Wednesday night, Aquino will host a welcome reception for the visiting world leaders at the Mall of Asia Arena where a select few Filipino talents are expected to provide entertainment.
On November 19, the APEC leaders will gather for the traditional family photo and hold the first round of retreat at the PICC. President Aquino is scheduled to hold a press conference at the conclusion of the summit in the afternoon.
After the APEC summit, the President is scheduled to fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
CEO SUMMIT
The 2015 APEC CEO Summit, an open dialogue held in conjunction with the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week and organized by the private sector featuring the region’s Leaders and business heads, will start today in Makati City.
The summit will be opened by APEC CEO Summit 2015 chairman Tony Tan Caktiong. Tan Caktiong is the founder of Jollibee Foods Corp.
This will be followed by summit conversation, which will be joined by President Aquino regarding APEC’s Inclusive Growth Imperative.
The succeeding sessions will involve navigating geopolitical and economic uncertainty in the region; innovations in entrepreneurship; economic reforms and governance; among others.
The conference will be a three-day event that will be held and attended by high-level economic leaders and corporate heads from the 21 APEC member economies.
It will be attended by some of the economies’ heads of states including Chile President Michelle Banchelet; Columbia President Juan Manuel Santos; Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha; Peru President Humala Peru; Australian Prime Minister Malcoln Turnbull; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; among others.
The APEC Small and Medium Enterprise Summit will also be held on 17 November to address opportunities and challenges unique to the sector
DELEGATES’ SAFETY
The Makati City government has put in place adequate measures to ensure the safety of the delegates to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit delegates, especially those who are billeted in Makati’s hotels.
As part of their city’s security preparations, Acting Makati Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña said at least 600 traffic enforcers from the Public Safety Department (PSD) will augment the
usual number of personnel on duty.
The additional traffic personnel will provide security and manage traffic at the designated routes for APEC delegates within the city, which serves as the country’s financial hub.
Motorists are advised that roads that will be closed for the whole day in district 1 from November 16 to 19 are portions of West Street, North Street and Parkway Drive (between Makati Avenue and Ayala Avenue) in the Glorietta area.
On November 15 and 17, the route that will be closed from 3 to 11 p.m. would be the westbound lane of Ayala Avenue, from Makati Avenue to Paseo de Roxas along Tower One and Exchange Plaza.
READY FOR APEC
The Philippine National Police (PNP) in the Bicol region raised its status from “normal” to “full alert” to ensure the readiness of its personnel to respond to any contingencies in APEC which is scheduled in Manila this week, the top official of PNP Bicol said.
Chief Supt. Augusto M. Marquez, Jr., Bicol PNP regional director said that this means, leaves of PNP personnel were suspended, personnel who were enjoying vacations were recalled, massive chokepoint and checkpoints were being done, troops are alerted for possible augmentation or deployment and teams are on standby and ready on call.
PRAY FOR PEACE
Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado instructed the provincial police and security forces to step up their internal security measures to help the government in ensuring a peaceful climate during the holding of the APEC Summit.
He said Bulacan ‘s proximity to Metro Manila compels that it adopts intensive security measures and preparations to prevent potential hostile forces from disrupting the meeting of the world leaders which the Philippines is hosting this week.
“Even President Aquino is personally checking the venues where the world leaders would meet. We must help our president in ensuring the peaceful hosting of this important world event,” Alvarado said.
The governor has already instructed Bulacan police director, Ferdinand O. Divina and other law enforcement agencies in Bulacan to increase police visibility on a 24/7 basis.
HEAVY TRAFFIC
As expected, heavy traffic was observed in major thoroughfares in the Metro yesterday as the full scale APEC Convoy Dry Run was conducted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). MMDA’s traffic discipline office head Crisanto Saruca said the simultaneous convoy dry run started at 7 a.m. affecting roads in: Ayala corner Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3; Skyway from NAIA Terminal 3 leading to and from EDSA; Ayala; Buendia and its extension; Taft Avenue; entire stretch of Roxas Boulevard; and Coastal Road going to NAIA Terminal 1. (With Annaliza Villas-Alavaren, Madelaine B. Miraflor, Nino N. Luces, Freddie C. Velez, and Rachel JoyceE. Burce)