Summit official brings good news to Cebu

Together with his wish for a peaceful Christmas celebration, an official of the ASEAN National Organizing Committee (NOC) brings an added ego booster to Cebuanos by confirming the report early this week about the attendance of the 15 heads of states in the 12th ASEAN Summit in January.

In a phone interview over ABS-CBN Cebu TV Patrol, 12th ASEAN Summit Spokesman Amb. Victoriano Lecaros said that the 15 heads of states have indeed confirmed that they are attending the international event.

He added that aside from the leaders, many of the economic ministers of the ASEAN member countries and dialog partners will also be coming to hold another round of talks.

“You see, all the talks about losses when the summit was cancelled due to the typhoon will now be dispelled for they (economic ministers and other officials) will come for the second time and spend their money here,” says Lecaros.

The summit was postponed next month after typhoon Seniang hit the Visayas islands shortly before the event should have officially opened here last week at the newly-built Cebu International Convention Center. (PIA)

US-based Microtel hotel chain to open Cebu branch

Cebu’s quest to become the next tourism hub in Asia got a boost after American hotel developer Microtel recently announced plans to establish next year its biggest project in the country so far on Mactan Island.

US-based Microtel Development Corp. (MDC) plans to construct a 150-room “bed and breakfast” theme hotel between two major hotels in Lapu-Lapu City.

”This will be the biggest Microtel Inn in the Philippines,” said Dean Cid, Microtel Philippines resident manager.

Microtel Inn Cebu will be MDC’s seventh development in the country. Microtel has branches in Baguio, Tarlac, Batangas, Cavite and Boracay, which opened last Oct. 25.

Cid said apart from Cebu, the company is planning to put up a branch in Cabanatuan City.

He added that Microtel Davao is expected to open next year.

Cid also bared that Microtel plans to establish more branches in the country to add to its worldwide chain.

”As long as there’s traffic, ample business environment and good partners we hope to expand in every major province in the country,” he said.

Microtel opens its outlets to franchising at a rate of P1.5 million per room with a minimum requirement of 50 to 60 rooms per development.

The average area requirement for Microtel hotels is 3,000 square meters with a room size of 25 to 30 square meters.

The construction of Microtel Inn Cebu is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2007 with the target soft opening 10 months later, Cid said.

He said Microtel hotels have standard design and can be operational in less than a year.

Amenities in Microtel branches include chiropractic beds, restaurant, Internet connection, swimming pool, parking space and 24-hour security, among others.

Cid said unlike Microtel Boracay, which cater to the high-end market, Microtel Cebu will focus on “budget” travelers as its niche market.

He said room rates for the future Cebu branch will range from P2,000 to P3,000. (PNA)

DTI awards the top public markets of Cebu

In line with the government’s call to traders to prioritize the welfare of consumers, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu Provincial Office brings the advocacy further as it awarded the top three winners of the 2006 Pamilihan ng Lalawigan Search yesterday.

The awardees were Dalaguete Commercial Center (1st), Pardo Public Market (2nd), and the public markets of Tabunok and Consolacion shared in the third spot.

The search which does not only look at the cleanliness of the public market puts emphasis on the quality of enforcement of the fair trade and consumer protection laws, as well as the presence of proper market sectioning, vendor association, timbangan ng bayan, consumer welfare desk, market manager, and other related concerns that are beneficial to the buyer.

Each of the winners received a plaque of recognition, a token, and a banner that bears the information of their winning this year’s search.

DTI Cebu official Inez Cajegas who was with the Provincial Selection Team in the ocular survey said that in her observation each of the short-listed public market has its own good practices and potential for becoming the next Pamilihan ng Lalawigan.

The members of the selection team were representatives from DILG, DTI, PIA, DA, and a consumer group.

Among those who came to receive the awards were public market officials Felix Omilig (Dalaguete), Luis Calvo and Jose Delfino (Pardo), Jocelyn Sanchez and Winefredo Bas (Tabunok, Talisay City), and Teodoro Hatamosa (Consolacion). (PIA)

Cebu now ready for the 12th ASEAN Summit

The Philippines, specifically Cebu province, is all set for the hosting of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on Dec. 10-14.

"All systems are go here for the Summit," ASEAN Summit Spokesperson Victoriano Lecaros said in an interview this morning over ANC Channel.

Ambassador Lecaros said physical and security matters are in place and Cebu is ready to host 16 leaders of the ASEAN member states and their dialogue partners despite the limited time given the Philippines to prepare for the regional event.

He said other host countries have at least two years to prepare for the top-level meeting, while the Philippines had only a year to do it after Myanmar declined to serve as the summit host for political reasons.

He added that the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) started only last April and in just a matter of nine months, it is now a world-class international convention center.

The CICC, one of the venues of the ASEAN leaders’ meetings, is now complete and everything is in place, including media and communications facilities, Lecaros said.

He added that the heads of states/governments and their delegations would be safe and secure as a composite of marines, police, coast guard and members of the Presidential Security Group have been deployed to make sure that peace and order is maintained during the summit.

"The whole world is watching Cebu now," he said as he stressed that the Philippines would definitely benefit from hosting the summit.

"There are long term benefits particularly in the tourism sector that Cebu and the country will gain from this event," he said. (PNA)

Cebuanos Call for Unity during ASEAN Summit 2006

Congressman Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City South District) called on fellow Cebuanos Monday to unite in giving visitors and delegates attending the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit a red-carpet welcome.

Cuenco said the holding of the summit provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will provide a slew of benefits to the province and to the country as well.

He pointed out that apart from the goodwill, there will also be a lot of revenues that will be generated from hosting the meeting and the influx of delegates who will stay in various hotels.

These benefits, Cuenco said, is a direct reflection of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's engagement in international relations which she is bringing home.

"Engagement with other countries introduces all our people to the opportunities that the world holds in store," he said.

Cuenco pointed out that while the province cannot prevent foreign and local groups from holding protest rallies in line with the ASEAN meetings, "they should hold their protest actions in peace" in accordance with the constitutional rights in a democratic country like the Philippines.

In a related development, Romeo Bautista, a computer technician of the Air Transportation Office (ATO) at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, said that Cebuanos are peace-loving people as he appealed to militant groups coming from Manila not to disturb the ASEAN Summit.

"We want to welcome the delegates to our city. If the militant groups want to protest, they should protest in Manila or elsewhere and not in Cebu City. We want to show our guests that Cebuanos are warm and hospitable people," Bautista said. (PNA)

Central Philippines eyed as world tourist destination

The government will develop to the fullest various advantages of Central Philippines to make this super region a world-class tourist destination.

“We must develop its carrying capacity to attract more tourists and to make them feel comfortable,” President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Monday during the Tribuna España-Filipinas forum in Manila.

To fully develop the Central Philippines, she said the government will continue implementing vital public infrastructure projects and forge stronger ties with Spain so that communication as well as movement of people and goods within, emanating from and flowing into this super region can be facilitated.

More tourism activities are expected to help generate additional jobs in the super region to help lower poverty incidence there.

Mrs. Arroyo said Central Philippine areas of Bicol, the Visayas including Romblon Island, Palawan, northern Camiguin and Siargao continue topping the list of Philippine tourist destinations which most people visit.

“We’ll prioritize developing these since about 60 percent of our foreign tourists visit such places,” she said.

The President believes having Spain as a development partner will augur well for Central Philippines’ transformation into an eco-tourism destination. She said that country is experienced with such, having progressed into a becoming first-world State mainly through tourism.

Mrs. Arroyo likewise pointed out Spain can help push the government’s development thrust because that country is targeting more investments in the East as indicated in its 2005-2008 Asia-Pacific (AP) Plan of Action.

“We’re happy Spain isn’t just looking at giants like Japan, China and Korea but also an old friend, the Philippines,” she said.

Mrs. Arroyo is inviting the Spanish business community to invest in tourism ventures in the country.

Government's projects for Central Philippines are part of the P370 billion 2007-2010 public infrastructure program President Arroyo announced during her State of the Nation Address this year.

Malacanang earlier said the program’s implementation is now possible because its fiscal reforms are raising revenues for such purpose. (PNA)