Dates of completion for remaining work at CICC sought

The Cebu Organizing Committee chaired by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia wants the sub-committees dealing on physical works, including infrastructure projects, to present target dates for its completion.

Garcia yesterday said preparations for the 12th ASEAN Summit are on track as scheduled based on the reports presented by the sub-committees during their meeting at the Plantation Bay in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday morning. This has now become a weekly meeting as the summit is nearing. "We did request though for that, those committees that have certain infrastructure to complete, certain physical accomplishments that must be delivered. That in the next meeting, these sub-committees must present before the COC target dates by which we will be able to expect the completion of certain items of work," she said.

The governor cited work schedules set for specific items at the Cebu International Convention Center, the venue of the majority of the meetings during the summit.

In relation to this, COC demanded target dates for specific items of work that include asphalt overlaying of ceremonial routes for the summit, the painting of curves and gutters, the installation of streetlights, the perimeter-fencing of the area near Portofino courtyards in Danao City. "So all of these will be presented in the next meeting with specific target dates of completion," she said. DPWH presented 81 percent completion of its asphalt-overlaying project on ceremonial routes during the COC meeting yesterday.

DPWH has set October 31 as target date for the completion of such road asphalting projects. On the other hand, the governor has scheduled a separate meeting with the CICC main contractor and sub-contractors on November 3 "for an update on how they have been able to meet their deadlines".

Ninety-six percent of the entire CICC facility is now complete, just a few days before the November 15 slated date for its turnover to Capitol. "Obviously, we are now on the finishing touches because the main civil works have been completed. Partitioning is going on, human na man gani siguro, and the media center is almost completed," she said.

Meanwhile, Accord Cebu Environmentalist, Incorporated president Juan Sala has urged leaders of the ASEAN to come up with measures on the protection of the environment saying that it has been given less focus nowadays.

Sala, in a press conference yesterday, said that environmental problems have been the least concern nowadays which is why it should be the focus in one of the summit's discussions. "I am urging the ASEAN leaders to immediately come up with incentives to stop pollution," Sala said.

He added that Asian countries are currently suffering the haze of kaingin (slash and burn) system being practiced by some farmers.

"I am urging heads of states to come up with incentives and jobs that are agriculture related. Farmers should be given alternative livelihood so that they will not burn the forest and the land," Sala said. - Cristina C. Birondo and Jasmin R. Uy/MEEV