Reminders before, for, and after the ASEAN Summit

The local officials of Cebu and their national partners are again busy preparing for the January 10-15 ASEAN Summit which was abruptly cancelled by the GMA administration last December. Will the summit push through this time?

With good weather predicted and no major political typhoon looming in the immediate horizon, organizers are very confident this time that the 12th ASEAN Summit will finally push through.

The pre-summit reminders are there. Some of these include the closing of major roads that will be used during the summit, suspension of classes as well as government work on January 12 and 15, sprucing up again of plants and decorations, additional budget for these and planned dinners and activities for foreign guests, continuation of eviction of residents living near or within the summit site or path, and more.

Security preparations and concerns are again evident. Due to security concerns, the organizers have not yet confirmed the participants and the schedule and venue of activities for the summit. Despite the assurances by local authorities of the absence of threats of terrorism or their security preparedness during the 12th ASEAN Summit, the four governments of New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Great Britain have been reported to have issued travel advisories urging their citizens to "exercise extreme caution (Australia), to be "very careful (New Zealand), "to be vigilant" (Canada) and "to include safety measures in all their travel plans (Great Britain) given the possible threat of terrorist "attacks that could be launched anytime soon" or " danger" of "kidnapping throughout the Philippines."

No doubt, a summit of this nature can tackle major issues of importance for the ASEAN. We are not sure if reminding the ASEAN summit officials about their commitment to create a true, genuine global humane community rather than just a strong, active global market will be heard and acted upon. We can only try and try again and again to repeat the call for the need for genuine global policies and practices that will build a real global home for all, where equality, truth, justice and respect for human rights reign.

While there is agreement that this ASEAN Summit is historic and crucial not only for Cebu, for the Philippines, but for the whole region and the world, debates and arguments continue about the extravagant costs for the hosting of this summit by Cebu and the GMA administration. That will be our final reminder for all, especially to the concerned government national and local officials, that after the lights have dimmed and the summit fiesta is over, that the Filipino people, especially the Cebuanos, deserve to be given an immediate, transparent accounting of the costs expended for this event.

We welcome the Ombudsman's active interest in the issue of transparency and accountability related to this matter. We join hands with our people as well as with our colleagues in media, especially Mr. Leo Lastimosa, in respectfully reminding Governor Gwen Garcia about her promise to give us, the people, the report of all expenditures not only for the ASEAN but of her favorite road construction and other projects during her term. Specifically, she publicly said she will answer our question about how much was spent on what projects and where. We understand that the ASEAN has kept her very preoccupied and so we hope to hear from her directly shortly after the ASEAN. She may wish to give that report orally, as she looks at all concerned straight in the eyes or she may wish to just give a written report. "Trabaho lang po, Governor Gwen, walang personalan."

Among the first statements that she told the civil society members that she intended to organize as partners for Cebu's development during the early part of her first year as governor was that she wanted to avoid the Perdido Lex taint during her term. We saw early on her determination to blaze a distinct path for herself as the first woman governor of this province. She can certainly be an original and inspiring leader, and a real pro, if soon after the ASEAN Summit, Governor Gwen will prioritize and release her promised report on budget transparency and accountability for her term as Cebu Governor.

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