ASEAN economic ministers to meet in Iloilo City Feb. 25–27

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Jennifer P. Rendon

Economic and trade ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will gather in Iloilo City for the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting from Feb. 25 to 27 to advance regional economic integration, trade facilitation, and sustainable growth.

The city will also host the 49th Meeting of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration from Feb. 24 to 27, with about 12 heads of delegation and 60 participants expected to attend.

The ministerial meeting is led by the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, with support from the Iloilo City Government.

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said on Feb. 19 that hosting the high-level economic gathering would bring significant economic benefits to the city.

“This is a big opportunity for Iloilo. We are not only supporting the country’s economic agenda, but we are also boosting our local economic activity, especially as we aim to strengthen the presence of our international markets,” she said.

She added that the event would serve as a platform to showcase local industries, noting that stronger support for local enterprises could translate into more jobs and increased economic activity in communities.

The AEM meeting is one of three major international gatherings Iloilo City will host in the coming months, with additional events scheduled in April and May.

Delegates will include representatives from the 10 ASEAN member states — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam — as well as dialogue partners China, Japan, and South Korea.

ASEAN, established in 1967, promotes political and economic cooperation among its member states and regularly convenes ministerial meetings to strengthen regional trade and investment ties.

As part of the city’s hosting efforts, Treñas-Chu said official dinners for diplomats will be held in selected heritage houses in Iloilo City to highlight its cultural and architectural legacy.

Face-to-face classes will be suspended from Feb. 25 to 27, with schools shifting to alternative delivery modes to ensure the safety of delegates, similar to measures implemented during the ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting in Cebu City on Jan. 29.

Although an executive order has yet to be signed, Treñas-Chu confirmed the suspension will cover the meeting dates, though the city government has yet to confirm whether it will apply to all school levels.

Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) officer in charge Col. Wilbert Parilla said the suspension was recommended to ease traffic and facilitate the movement of high-level delegation convoys. “We recommended that schools will shift to alternative mode of learning,” he said.

On Feb. 20, the ICPO will deploy more than 1,900 personnel to secure the event, augmented by 197 personnel from the Police Regional Office 6, drawn from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion.

Parilla said a multiagency coordinating center will open Friday in anticipation of early arrivals from participating countries and national secretariats as early as Saturday or Sunday.

Police assistance desks will be set up at identified venues and tourist destinations, and while no major restrictions are expected, strict security protocols — including bag inspections — will be enforced.

Parilla said the ICPO has recommended the imposition of a gun ban, pending approval from the Regional Civil Security Unit, and stressed that no security threats against the delegates have been monitored.

Treñas-Chu also said she has recommended Parilla for permanent appointment as ICPO director, with confirmation from the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame still pending.