Page 34 - Hello Philippines November 2015 'B' issue

34 www.hello-philippines.com
#APEC2015
PHL ready ‘for all contingencies,’ as security
at NAIA, venues tightens
MANILA - Philippine officials said
Sunday they were “preparing for all
contingencies” as security preparations
for the country’s hosting of the
#APEC2015 reached highest alert
Sunday.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin
gave the assurance to reporters,
as airport and local government
authorities said additional measures
were put in place after terror attacks
in Paris killed at least 120 people and
re-shaped the traditionally economic-
oriented agenda of world leaders
meeting under G20.
“We are preparing for all
contingencies and... that’s why we’re
doing our last- minute check to make
sure that no stone is left unturned,”
Gazmin said in an ambush interview
at the International Media Center in
Manila where some 3,000 journalists
are being hosted.
A V-150 armored vehicle of the Special Operations Unit (SOU) of the elite forces of the PNP-Aviation Security
Group is seen parked at the NAIA aviation complex. ©InterAksyon.com
3 things youth leaders want APEC to focus on
MANILA – What do young people
want the grown-ups to focus on so
that they could have a future? At the
APEC Voices of the Future dialogue
with members of the APEC Business
Advisory Council as part of #APEC2015
in Manila, youth leaders from 17
economies from the Asia-Pacific gave
government and the private sector
specific recommendations to address
three of their concerns:
u Environment in climate crisis.
APEC economies should immediately
set to zero the tariffs on Green goods,
Canada’s Ms. Alexis Wagner said. “It is
imperative for APEC to remove tariffs on the economy, and prosperity…but there is
environmental goods,” she said.
In addition, Wagner also
recommends: States must look for
comprehensive solutions to the current
climate crisis.
“Whole-government solutions
are needed to address environmental
challenges -- in trade policies and
At the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport’s four terminals, officials
introduced additional security
measures to ensure the safety of heads
of state and other foreign dignitaries
attending the APEC Economic Leaders’
Retreat and the related events that
start Monday.
The Special Operations Unit (SOU),
the elite forces of the Philippine
National Police-Aviation Security
Group (ASG), stationed several V-150s
equipped with machine guns and
deployed personnel in four terminals
at the weekend.
Sniff dogs were also deployed
around sensitive areas of the airports,
along with foot patrols at the perimeter
sites where the foreign leaders’ aircraft
are to park.
According to Avsegroup director,
Chief Supt. Pablo Francisco Balagtas,
his force has been doubled to make
environmental regulations,” she said.
Taking off from the September meetings
at the United Nations on Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) that included
climate action, Wagner noted that much
of the world’s economic growth has been
from the extraction and use of non-
renewable natural resources.
This type of growth has affected the
environment as well as sustainable growth,
she said.
“Everyone recognizes that connecting
with nature is good for people’s health,
a disconnect with nature not just among
youth but among people of all ages,”
Wagner said.
“I hope APEC addresses this issue, and
make Nature and our natural heritage
more accessible so that environmental
protection is embedded in all societies. For
the future generation, I hope it is at the
forefront in conferences such as this,” she
added.
NEWS
sure that Avsegroup is “100-percent
ready” for the APEC.
The Avsegroup had been meeting
with different government and private
agencies the past few months to tackle
APEC-related matters.
Among the agencies involved
in this coordinated effort are the
Bureau of Customs, Bureau of
Immigration, Bureau of Quarantine,
Manila International Airport
Authority (MIAA), National Bureau of
Investigation, the Presidential Security
Group and the Airline Operators
Council.
The private security firms whose
personnel man the gates at terminals
and the ramps were also briefed on the
tight security measures put in place.
The Airport Police Department of
the MIAA will stand as partners of the
Avsegroup.
Balagtas said the elite SOU forces
will be devoting particular attention to
guarding the aircraft of the Economic
Leaders. “Guarding more than 20
aircraft is not so easy. The designated
planes’ parking area should be kept out
of unauthorized personnel,” Balagtas
stressed.
Even trucks supplying aviation
fuel to the premier airport will have
to deal with heavy security and rigid
screening.
MMDA declares red alert. Following
the November 13 bomb and gun
attacks in six sites in Paris, the
Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) on Sunday
declared a red alert as part of their
security preparations for #APEC2015.
MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos
said Sunday the agency will be doing
v Jobs and livelihood in a slowing
global economy. Ms. Wang Zhuo Ru from
China said that as her country slows down
from its “high-speed” growth pattern, it
has made “job creation and innovation its
motto.”
With China encouraging start-ups
and entrepreneurships to do this, “young
people, the most dynamic [demographic
segment of the population], are the best to
[take up the challenge] for self-employment
and innovations,” she said.
Paolo Monteiro from the Philippines
urged ABAC to invest in quality education
as this would encourage more young
people to invent and innovate more new
technologies.
“Quality education results in excellent
goods and services,” Monteiro said.
“Universities are great incubators of ideas.”
“Better education among work force
encourages innovative entrepreneurship
which in turn would greatly benefit all
APEC economies,” he added.
November 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 22 • UK & Europe Edition
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin adjusts his
spectacles in July 2014 file photo. The Philippines’ APEC venues to avoid inconvenience
defense chief said Sunday authorities were
“preparing for all contingencies” as security forces
went on high alert ahead of the hosting of the 2015
APEC Economic Leaders summit. ©InterAksyon.com
round-the-clock monitoring of all
relevant areas through a bank of
CCTVs. This will support the police and
military’s work, and allow the PNP and
AFP to respond immediately if there is
any “situation” during APEC week.
“The MMDA is on red alert. While
we don’t have police power or security
capabilities, the agency can be most
useful in using its personnel and CCTVs
to be the eyes and ears of government;
to help observe and report any
untoward incident or development, so
the police can respond immediately,”
MMDA’s Atty. Carlos said at the
agency’s weekly radio program Sunday
morning.
Meanwhile, Acting Makati Mayor
Romulo “Kid” Peña ordered the
deployment of 600 traffic enforcers
from the Public Safety Department
(PSD) to augment the usual number of
personnel on duty, as part of the city’s
security measures for the delegates to
the event.
Some APEC delegates are billeted
in Makati hotels. Key business-oriented
events are also being held in the city,
including the APEC CEO Summit on
Monday and the APEC SMEs Summit
w Increasing trade in an economy
in doldrums. The student leader from
Peru suggested that countries across the
Pacific trade more, and that her country be
used as a “stepping stone” in the “bridging
between Latin America and Asia.”
She said Peru is among the most
vibrant economies in Latin America with
creative, passionate, and hardworking
people. In addition, Peru is scheduled to
host the next APEC.
Aside from Peru, the other Latin
on Tuesday. President Benigno Aquino
III will attend both events.
‘Stay away from APEC venues’. Carlos
advised motorists to stay away from
from the closure of roads.
The two innermost lanes on EDSA’s
south and northbound routes have
been designated as APEC lanes. Only
authorized vehicles of delegates and
security forces will be allowed to enter
these, said Carlos.
Warning signs and markers have
been installed to guide motorists,
Carlos added, as he warned the public
to stay away from places and roads
where the APEC delegates will pass.
Several roads will be closed to
vehicular traffic to make way for the
APEC delegates.
The stretch of Roxas Boulevard
from Katigbak Drive to Airport Road in
Pasay City will also be closed to traffic
in both directions.
There will be road closures in the
Mall of Asia Arena area from November
18, starting 6 am until midnight, and at
the Cultural Center of the Philippines
from November 16 to 20.
The agency, meanwhile, advised
motorists to use the Mabuhay or
Christmas Lanes it earlier tagged as
alternatives to major thoroughfares
like EDSA.
Earlier, MMDA said the number-
coding scheme will still be in force
from Nov. 16 to 20, even though
Malacañang declared November 18
and 19 as special non-working holidays.
Carlos explained that they need
to further decongest Metro Manila’s
thoroughfares during the APEC meet.
“We will try to prevent the congestion of
vehicles during these days,” Carlos said. n
Richie Lopa and Clara Masinag / InterAksyon.com / Roices
Naguit / News5 / November 15, 2015 / 8:08 pm
American countries that are part of
APEC are Mexico and Chile.
Launched in Kuala Lumpur in 1998,
the annual APEC Voices of the Future
is an opportunity for young leaders to
participate in the discussions with ABAC
leaders during the APEC Leaders week.
This year’s youth program includes
culture-oriented and multilateral
dialogue that is focused on APEC
priorities. n Veronica Uy / InterAksyon.com /
November 16, 2015 / 12:25 am