𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐔 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒
Cebu’s successful hosting of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit last week is expected to strengthen the province’s position as a major hub for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE), with local officials already seeing increased interest from organizers of large-scale events.
“I think that’s one of the effects. We’re getting more events, including MICE here in Cebu,” Governor Pamela Baricuatro said during the post-ASEAN Summit press briefing at the Capitol on May 13.
MICE is a specialized sector of business travel involving large groups gathered for professional, commercial, or networking purposes. It is considered a major economic driver focused on corporate events and professional development.
The governor, who chaired the Provincial Organizing Committee of the summit, added that at least three national government agencies had already invited her to speak at their national conventions scheduled to be held in Cebu in the coming days.
Gov. Baricuatro was joined during the briefing by Department of Tourism-Central Visayas Director Gelena Asis-Dimpas and Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Office head Garry Lao.
ZERO MAJOR INCIDENTS RECORDED
Police Colonel Kim Molitas, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7) for the ASEAN Summit, said the event became one of the most organized and seamless international summits held in the country because of extensive preparation and coordination among government agencies.
She said Philippine National Police Chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. personally supervised police operations during the summit, with around 8,000 police officers and other uniformed personnel deployed to maintain peace and order and ensure the security of foreign delegates.
“We are very happy to inform the public that we have recorded zero major incident during the ASEAN Summit,” Molitas said.
‘DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP, DIFFERENT TIME’
Gov. Baricuatro said the ASEAN Summit would serve as a benchmark for future international events in Cebu, emphasizing that the provincial government worked closely with national agencies and local government units to ensure the summit’s success.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a different leadership, it’s a different time; so that’s why it’s a different result,” the governor said in response to the media’s question on the difference of Cebu’s hosting of the summit this year and in the past.
Cebu previously hosted the 12th ASEAN Summit in 2007 at the now-defunct Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), which later became embroiled in controversy and allegations of corruption. This time, however, no such issues surfaced.
“Lahi karon ug kaniadto. Kay ato gayod napakita that recognition belongs to the people behind the scenes. Everyone helped to ensure that the summit was represented with grace, readiness, and warmth,” said Lao, who also covered the 12th ASEAN Summit as a journalist. /𝑪𝑨𝑷𝑰𝑻𝑶𝑳 𝑷𝑰𝑶, 𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑭𝑬
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