Trump seen attending Asean meet in November

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – US President Donald Trump is among the 14 heads of state expected to attend the celebration here of the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Nov. 13-14.

Joining Trump – aside from leaders of the ten ASEAN member-countries – are Russian president Vladimir Putin, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and acting South Korean President Hwang Kyo-Ahn.

“We expect some 4,000 people for that event,” Department of Tourism director for Central Luzon Ronnie Tiotuico said in a forum with the Pampanga Press Club.

He said he was not sure if Chinese President Xi Jinping would attend the event.

Tiotuico said preparations are underway for Trump’s stay at the Mimosa Leisure Estate, adding that various construction activities are also being rushed at the controversial Fontana Estate here to accommodate other leaders.

While hotels within this free port can accommodate as many as 5,000 people, some guests might be billeted at Subic Freeport, a 45-minute drive from Clark via the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

ASEAN member states – aside from the Philippines – include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Earlier, Clark Development Corp. (CDC) officer-in-charge Alveen Tabag said the C.M. Recto and Abad Santos Avenues in the free port are set for widening in July in time for the ASEAN anniversary.

The CDC official said organizers of the ASEAN event may have to shift to Plan B or moving the event to Metro Manila if the road projects are not completed on time.

Tabag said a total of 66 big trees are to be affected by the widening project, although 44 of them could be balled and replanted to other areas.