ASEAN SUMMIT ....

ASEAN SUMMIT
PREPARATIONS

There were many preparations to make the ASEAN Summit successful and for the Cebu to be a good host. Some of these preparations occur well and some were bad.
They have spent the money at a total cost of 1 billion pesos just to make the ASEAN Summit successful and fruitful for the country. After the ASEAN Summit, what have we got? Fame and publicity. Did it help the poor Cebuanos?
Even though we had some accomplishments that we achieved with the cooperation of the delegates and leaders of the different countries who participated. Some of these were:
ü Expansion of air-linkages in the BIMP-Eaga region with the signing of the 4 countries Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines
ü “common and simplified” rules for the “customs-immigration-quarantine-security” (CIQS) processes for faster and easier movements of goods across borders
ü come up to get risk of the bird flu
ü a conclusion statement had an agreement on counter-terrorism and the protection of migration workers
ü Eminent Persons Group (EPG) pushed peace, stability in religion, but suggests only “active strengthening of democratic values”
ü Charter for an integrated regional bloc similar to the European Union
ü The proposal of showcase of Cebu’s furniture by the Cebuanos designer, Kenneth Cobonpue
ü Meeting about the nuke test (South Korea)
ü Open trading with other countries especially China
There were really many accomplishments after the ASEAN Summit was held in Cebu. But behind all these, was the spending of money not right. For building the (CICC) Cebu International Convention Center spent to be about 515 million pesos; for the spending of the decorative lampposts along the streets that said to be estimated 95 thousand pesos each; the buying of the 25 innova cars for 25 million pesos mobile cars and the armed guns for the SWAT team and other security forces; the spending for the surveillance cameras and the payment for the hotel accommodation for the foods of the delegates of the countries and the media that is thought to be about 800 thousand pesos. Imagine that spending of money that was said to be gotten from the Calamity Fund and for the decorative lampposts were from the (DPWH) Department of Public Works and Highways. And for all of these, its total cost is said to be about 1 billion pesos. Was the money went to the right hand in spending or they just estimat4ed it and the extra ones went to the government officials’ private pockets. That sis why commentators and poor people has always said that the government official were the ones who benefited most.
Behind these, did it help us, the Cebuanos? No, it did not especially poor people. The situation became more complicated, the poor Cebuanos became poorer while the rich became richer. Major of the population of Cebu mainly composed of poor people while the rich people can now be counted and some of these rich people are the government officials or their family in Cebu. I don’t know why government officials are taking responsibility but somehow wants to enrich them. They take the responsibility for his own good and not for the people’s benefits. And with that some officials take some opportunities to campaign especially now that election is coming. Speaking of politics, politicians are now starting to have their own campaign through posting posters with their face and name, through having a meeting with the poor and promising to have a good country and some go to advertising with products or a companion of showbiz stars. Still related to the ASEAN Summit, there was once a politician who started his or her campaign through climbing and painting the roofs of the squatters’ area. See, how hardworking they are if they are still not in position. What wo0uld ever be the purpose for that? Just simply having campaign. But let me ask, why did the government decided to paint the roofs of the squatters’ area. That is one I do not liked during the preparation of the ASEAN Summit. It just showed that they are ashamed to show the true situation that’s happening in our country. It also just their fault because it shows that the government isn’t serving the people very well or does not care about it. It does not give the right to the people. One controversial news about the preparation is about the government’s decision of throwing of street people to Buhisan where nobody could find them. How could they do that to our fellow Cebuanos, they don’t have the right to do that so.
Just imagine how expensive, how pitiful, how graceful the preparation of the ASEAN Summit was. But the ASEAN Summit preparation was good for the ones who benefited it and worst for the who is suffering we especially the poor people. If there would be another occasion again that is to be held in Cebu, will the government still do the things they have done and let them do what should be or go in protest or against for that thing again for everything is enough?. For the spending of 1 billion pesos is more than just enough. Just think of it!