Ouano against holiday during ASEAN summit

Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano expressed his opposition to the plan of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to put Cebu under a four-day holiday during the upcoming 12th Association of Southeast Nations Summit this December 11 to 14.

During the ASEAN Summit Cebu Organizing Committee meeting with the executive committee yesterday at Plantation Bay Resort, Ouano said the plan is an "overreaction" and instead suggests a selective holiday for the public, especially to the public schools and government offices but not the business establishments.

Sixth district Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz and Cebu City Representatives Raul del Mar and Antonio Cuenco backed Ouano's idea.

Del Mar said that the security committee should look into the dissenting opinions of Ouano and Osmeña on whether or not Cebu should be put under a four-day holiday during the upcoming ASEAN summit to determine what is best to be done.

Presidential adviser for Central Visayas Felix Guanzon brought up the concern of the business against the four-day holiday proposal.

Ouano said that he does not want the city to look like a ghost town during the summit, adding that there is no need for such declaration considering that Cebu is safe.

But Cebu City planning officer Nigel Paul Villarete insisted that in the last ASEAN Summit in Thailand, their government also adopted the four-day holiday to ensure the safety of the delegates.

Ruiz was angry to learn that until now the Department of Tourism has not yet submitted important data in relation to the preparation of the said event, such as the number of hotel rooms needed, and how to go about the transportation of the delegates for safety purposes.

Another meeting will be held on Monday wherein the DOT is expected to present data to answer Ruiz's concern.

Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez, meanwhile, appealed to local business groups to "sacrifice a little" as the 4-day holiday proposal during the holding of the summit here in Cebu this December means greater economic returns.

President Gloria Arroyo has announced the declaration of December 11 to 14 a holiday during her visit here in Cebu last January, following the request of Osmeña over fears of possible terrorist attacks during the hosting of the said international event.

A presidential proclamation covering such measure has yet to be issued, though. - Mitchelle P. Calipayan and Cristina C. Birondo