CICC completion deadline expires

The self-imposed deadline for the completion of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City expires today.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is expecting a substantial completion of the CICC, which will be turned over to Capitol today by the contractor.

Garcia said that there will still be items of work that are yet to be completed, but emphasized that these are mostly just finishing.

This include the painting and double coating of some of the walls, completion of the tileworks and some hammering, as well as the construction of the water features inside the main structure of the CICC and the fountain outside.

Once all the finishing touches will be done, the carpeting will be installed. The contractor for the carpeting said that it will only take a day or two to install it since all the material needed are already at the project site.

All civil works for the CICC are already completed so that it can be already be "usable" today.

Garcia said that they still have three weeks to do the finishing work before the pre-summit meetings starting December 6.

She also said that WT Construction, the main contractor of the project, is still waiting for the "switch gear" that was ordered causing the delay in the test run for the elevators, escalators and the air conditioning units.

The test run for such equipment was originally scheduled last November 12, but it was postponed due to electrical voltage problems.

More Cops Due Here

The Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7), which is in charge of the security preparations for the ASEAN Summit announced that there would be about 6,000 policemen from different regions that would be deployed in Cebu to provide additional security.

PRO-7 deputy regional director for operations, Sr. Supt. Lani-O Nerez in the weekly 888 News Forum at the Parklane International Hotel said that more augmentation forces are coming in to Cebu before the end of this month.

Nerez said that more policemen are undergoing special training and they will be deployed as escorts of the top officials and other delegates of the summit.

PRO-7 deputy regional director for administration, Sr. Supt. Ronald Roderos said that as of today, there are already 2,000 additional policemen deployed in Cebu.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is also deploying 4,500 army soldiers and Marines for the same purpose.

Overpriced Hotel Rates

The National Organizing Committee for the 12th Asean Summit refuted a magazine report that the International Press Center (IPC) has been charging exorbitant hotel rates for foreign journalists that will cover the event.

Milton Alingod, NOC assistant secretary general for media said, "our job is only to act as go-between the members of the foreign media and the hotels in Cebu City so that they can be assured of accommodations during the summit."

The IPC is in-charge of the hotel bookings for the foreign media coming to Cebu for the summit. They expect about 3,000 foreign and local journalists.

An article in Newsbreak magazine alleged that organizers are making extra money from foreign journalists by charging excessive hotel rates. The article reported that published hotel rates in Cebu is US$60, yet the IPC under the Office of the Press Secretary asked foreign media to pay US$200 to $250 a night 'for an average hotel."

Foreign journalists were reportedly told by hotels to go through the IPC in making reservations, instead of going directly to each establishment.

Alingod said the different hotels and lodging houses in Cebu have different rates depending on the amenities and facilities that they offer and the IPC merely informs the foreign journalists about the rates.

"It is up to the foreign journalists to choose which hotel they would like to be billeted."

Alingod added that because of the limited number of hotel rooms available, the IPC deemed it necessary to make the reservations for the foreign media once they agree to the rates.

There are nine identified media hotels. These are Club Ultima, Crown Suites, Rajah Park Hotel, Cebu Midtown Hotel, Cebu Grand Hotel, and Montebello in Cebu City and Crown Regency, Costabella and Tambuli Beach Resort in Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City.

On transportation, Alingod said foreign journalists can rent any vehicle they prefer provided the vehicle is duly accredited with the NOC and is provided with the necessary car pass.

Nagiel Banacia, Cebu City public information officer defended the NOC and said hotels in Cebu are spending millions to renovate their establishment and that they need to recover their investments.

Shangri-la's Mactan Island Resort where most of the heads of state will be billeted is spending P1 billion for their renovations based on a news report.

Road Security Dry Run

The Cebu City Police Office is now gearing up for the scheduled November 25 dry-run for the road security test of some areas in the city that would be part of the ceremonial route that will taken by the ASEAN summit delegates.

Supt. Melvin Gayotin, the acting police director of the city, said the road security test would give the police a hands-on feeling of what to expect.

This will also serve as their basis for make adjustments and improve what needs to be improved just to secure the delegates.

The security preparations will not just focus on the primary routes, but there will also be policemen in the secondary or the alternative routes.

Heavy traffic near these routes is expected hence for the re-routing schemes that are already in place. PRO-7 director Silverio Alarcio will oversee the conduct of the road security test.

The police is now finalizing the rerouting plan, which would be submitted for approval next week to the concerned local government units. - with Edwin Ian Melecio