Page 26 - Hello Philippines November 2015 'B' issue

26 www.hello-philippines.com NEWS November 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 22 • UK & Europe Edition

#APEC2015 PREPS

PHL readies key venues, holds dry
runs for Economic Leaders’ summit
MANILA – Metro Manilans Here below are some of the weekend preparations, in photos by Krisken Jones:
grumbled for most of Saturday
(November 14) as government The World Trade Center in Pasay City serves as the APEC International PNP anti-riot personnel are on standby for a possible militant protest Workers rush last-minute preparations, including landscaping of the Philippine
officials used the weekend for all Media Center, hosting at least 3,000 journalists, for the APEC Summit 2015. near PICC, the main APEC venue. International Convention Center (PICC), the main APEC 2015 venue.
sorts of simulations and last-minute
preparations to ensure a flawless - Workers set up a giant APEC logo in front of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Government vehicles usethe APEC lane on EDSA extension towards the Mall of Asia (MOA) during Saturday’s dry run on both directions to
and secure -hosting of the 2015 APEC
Economic Leaders meeting next week. (PICC) amid frenzied preparations for APEC Economic Leaders Summit 2015. and from the main venues of the APEC Summit 2015. In the background are US military aircraft flying over the APEC Summit 2015 venue.

Many local residents complained of
hours-long traffic jams, road closures
and access to the usual weekend
destinations impaired, to give way to
the APEC preparations.

The dedicated APEC Lanes to
ensure heads of state and delegates
can zip through in and out of
the forum venues were tried out;
simulations of possible accidents or
any untoward incident were done;
and security officials went through
each and every detail of their plans
as the alert was heightened even
more by coordinated bomb and gun
attacks that killed over 100 people in
Paris. n InterAksyon.com / November 14, 2015 /

9:51 pm

Coast guard enforces ‘No-Sail Zone’ in Manila Bay for APEC
MANILA - The Philippine Coast The “No-Sail Zone Policy” will floating assets are now in high state of Restrictions. PCG said that through particularly in Visayas and Mindanao

Guard (PCG) on Friday announced that meanwhile be implemented within 30 preparedness and readiness in providing the Vessel Traffic Management System area, will be on the look-out for possible

it is set to implement a “No-Sail Zone yards from the shoreline going seaward maximum maritime security to the heads (VTMS), all plying vessels entering Manila threats and suspicious-looking persons.

Policy” during the Asia Pacific Economic also at the said vicinity. of states and APEC delegates. Bay from south and north entrance of Additional security protocols will

Cooperation (APEC) meeting next week. A heightened alert will also be enforced Commodore Joel Garcia, commander Corregidor will be challenged by floating be enforced by PCG through profiling

Under its Contingency Plan, the task in Pasig River wherein enforcers are on of Coast Guard District National Capital assets of enforcing agencies. of ships’ passengers going to Manila

group has declared an “exclusion zone” the look-out for critical infrastructures Region-Central Luzon and National About 70 floating assets of the PCG, before and during the duration of the

which covers two nautical miles from the such as bridges as well as informal settlers Director of the National Coast Watch Philippine Navy, Philippine National Police APEC summit.

shoreline going seaward from Pasig River dwelling within the area. Center (NCWC), will head the Task Group. (PNP) Maritime Group and the Bureau of There will be rigid screening for all

to the stretch of Parañaque City. PCG said that its personnel and Teamwork. Commodore Garcia called Customs, will be dispatched to interdict container vans of cargo vessels which

for the cooperation of all vessel owners, non-compliant vessels entering the will be implemented through the

port users, traders and shippers with the exclusion and no-sail zones. PCG K-9 Unit to evaluate any means

security preparations taken and security Vessels must seek permission from of transport of weapons of mass

measures being implemented by the task the task group if they decide to berth destruction.

group as early as three weeks prior to the to another area whereas movement of PCG will also deploy additional sea

summit. vessels in the exclusion zone is restricted. marshals for vessels and personnel to

All passengers are advised to avoid Domestic and international vessels be dispatched at North Harbor where

bringing prohibited goods such as in the no-sail zone which would berth or most passengers are disembarked while

ammunition and explosive materials and dock in North or South Harbor, on the a Customs/Immigration/Quarantine/

to be at the port at least two hours prior other hand, will be escorted by the forces Security Inspection will be conducted

to departure. of the task group. by the PCG and its K9 unit personnel

Owners of motorbancas and fisherfolks Security preps. Security preparations to all international vessels berthing at

from coastal barangays are also asked to for the visiting heads of economies have South Harbor. n Azer N. Parrocha / Philippine

refrain from sailing near the no-sail zones been further intensified such that all its News Agency / Renz Ongkiko / News5 / November

A general view of the Manila Bay. Photo by Rudy Esperas, ©InterAksyon.com during the APEC week. stations and sub-stations nationwide, 13, 2015 / 8:16 pm

Peso back to 47:$1 on BSP inflation outlook 3 hurt as gunman fires
THE peso returned to the P47:$1 inflation forecast to 1.4 percent from keep policy rates unchanged.

on Friday, after the Bangko Sentral 1.6 percent for this year, to 2.3 percent “Peso-to-dollar exchange rates could at SUV in Isabela

ng Pilipinas (BSP) slashed its inflation from 2.6 percent for 2016 and to 2.9 range between 46.93 and 47.40 next

forecasts. percent from 3 percent for 2017. week,” Vicente noted. n Keith Richard D. THREE people including a mayoral together with his wife and child.
candidate’s political officer were injured According to the report, the gunman
The local currency weakened to “Latest baseline forecasts continue Mariano / NB, GMA News / November 13, 2015 / 7:02 pm as a gunman fired at the SUV they were
riding on Saturday. tried to chase the victims before he
P47.05 or seven centavos lower from to indicate that inflation could settle hurriedly rode a getaway motorcycle
A report on “24 Oras” said the driven by another man.
the previous close of P46.98. The below the target range of two percent incidents happened in front of a school
in Santiago City in Isabela, a report Also, the report said the political
spot exchange rate hovered within to four percent for 2015,” BSP Governor from GMA’s “24 Oras” said. officer is now in the Intensive Care Unit
of a hospital in the province.
the P47.10 to P46.95 range during the Amando Tetangco Jr. said Thursday. It said a CCTV footage caught the
gunman firing at the windshield of The other two who were reported
session. The revision reflects the downward the SUV driven by the political officer, injured were only identified as a maid
who managed to get out of the vehicle and student. n Andrei Medina / LBG, GMA
“The Philippine peso retreated pressures coming from falling
News / November 14, 2015 / 8:57 pm
against the US dollar following the commodity prices and possibly slower-

central bank’s decision to cut inflation than expected global economic activity.

outlook,” MetisEtrade Inc. analyst The central bank announced the

Cherica Vicente said. adjustments in its inflation outlook

The BSP adjusted downward its after its Monetary Board decided to