Officials shift to apologetic mode ahead of Apec chaos

Expect a slew of traffic rerouting schemes, road closures, no-fly zones, flight delays and cancellations as the series of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings winds up next month.

Already, government officials have started to appeal to the general public for understanding and support for the preparations being made for the last leg of the Apec meetings, when the heads of the 21 member economies convene in the country from Nov. 16 to 20.

Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, along with Ambassador Mariano A. Paynor Jr., director general of the Apec 2015 National Organizing Council, and Philippine National Police Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, head of peace and order for the Apec Joint Task Force, on Wednesday admitted that the security measures to be implemented during the Apec Economic Leaders meet would seriously inconvenience the general public.

“These Apec delegates are our visitors, so let us please extend our cooperation to all our security forces and other personnel that may be deployed during the Leaders’ Meeting. From Nov. 16 to 20, there will be limited access to certain areas, including the stretch of Roxas Blvd., from Coastal Mall to Luneta, as well as Edsa, where two lanes will be designated Apec lanes,” Gaerlan said in a public appeal.

“It will be just a few days of inconvenience. As Filipinos, whenever we have visitors, we always try to give our best, to have our best foot forward, and so we ask of the same thing. We appeal for understanding since there will be a lot of movement of convoys, among others,” Gaerlan said.

According to Paynor, the preparations for the pope’s visit last January is only a tenth of the undertaking now being carried out for the heads of state who will be flying in late next month.