APEC delegates head downtown

CEBU, Philippines - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation delegates are set to have a two-day tour of the cultural and heritage spots of Cebu City starting today, this according to the Cebu City Transportation Office after its meeting with the Department of Tourism-7 yesterday.

Motorists and commuters should brace for possible heavy traffic in some city streets.

“Karon raman pud g’yud mi naka-finalize sa meeting, so advise nato ang motorists and drivers sa pagsabot sa kalit nga rerouting and pagdisiplina lang sa ilang part labi na nga naa atong mga bisita. Alang sa atong commuters, mangayo ta og pagsabot nila and ato lang pong hatagan og importansya ang atong bisita,” CCTO operations chief Jonathan Tumulak said.

At least 50 delegates from different economies are expected to traverse different streets today on their way to see cultural and historical sites in the city.

These are the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House, the Heritage of Cebu Monument, Colon Street, and the SM seaside cube at the South Road Properties, among others.

Tumulak said the areas near these sites will likely be affected by heavy traffic. He declined to name the itinerary of the tour for security reasons.

Today, he said the tour will start in the morning until afternoon.

For tomorrow’s schedule, stricter rules will be followed since ministers of different economies will participate in the tour.

“Kining atong mga APEC delegates nga mga ministers nga mosalmot sa September 3 nga tour, magsakay og coasters, buses, and atong paubanan sab sa atong convoy nga CCTO personnel,” he said.

When asked if this traffic rerouting will greatly affect the public, he said it will not create more confusion since only minor rerouting will be implemented.

“Dili man pud ta mag-sweep sa convoy, ang atoa mo-follow ang convoy sa normal traffic flow. Pero dunay minor rerouting, dili lang ta kasulti karon kun asa, basta needed ang rerouting, andam ta mo-implement dayon for the safety of the delegates,” he said.

CCTO executive director Rey Gealon said his office will pull out traffic enforcers deployed along the ceremonial routes of APEC for the tour routes.

“No road closure, only that the convoy of the delegates will be given preference as they pass by roads and intersections which will be adequately and properly manned,” he said.

Gealon said his office is asking for the patience and indulgence of the commuters and motorists who will be affected by the movement.

Meanwhile, DOT also said the public can contribute to the economy and tourism by simply not complaining about some changes imposed for the APEC.

 DOT-7 Director Rowena Montecillo appealed to the public to sacrifice a little for the event.

“We have to sacrifice a little because we are looking into the future. A little sacrifice would mean big investments and more tourists for Cebu and the Philippines,” she said during yesterday’s press briefing at the International Media Center in Bayfront Hotel.

Motorists and commuters are complaining about the rerouting schemes being implemented in some major thoroughfares in Metro Cebu reportedly due to traffic congestion and hassle.

Montecillo said people have to temporarily endure all these until APEC concludes the third Senior Officers' Meeting.

"The delegates are not complaining, but the community. But we have already appealed to them, and I think more people now understand the traffic situation,” she said.

“We are Filipinos and we are hospitable. We open our home to our guests, give them the best room, bed and food. Just like hosting APEC we want to show the best that we have,” she added.

Montecillo said they will appeal anew to the public for a “little sacrifice” when the ministerial meetings on transportation, finance, energy and structural reform will commence next month, from October 8 to 10.

Montecillo said she hopes that the services offered here and the beauty and scenes of Cebu will be remembered by the delegates after they return to their respective countries.

“With this experience we want to be remembered as a destination with very warm people and very good frontliners. I hope they will bring with them fun memories of Cebu,” she said.

Apart from the main objective of sustainable growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of economy, tourism, health, energy and infrastructure, APEC serves also as a training ground in molding frontliners to be remarkable service providers.

She said frontliners should likewise use APEC as an avenue to further enhance their skills in delivering the best services.

“APEC is a high-level experience for our people. This is really a learning period for our frontliners,” she said

She recalled how they “painstakingly” went through a lot of training for the frontliners, drivers and retailers for APEC saying it is very expensive to train people for quality service. —/BRP (FREEMAN)