By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – A ranking official of the ASEAN 2026 National Organizing Council on Monday assured the public that contingency plans for accidents and medical emergencies are already in place for the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits set Nov. 15 to 18.
“We have a joint task force for emergency preparedness and response headed by the Office of Civil Defense which is joined by the Department of Health, Bureau of Fire and other government agencies,” ASEAN 2026 National Organizing Council deputy director general Potenciano Camba said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview.
“We have a joint task force for emergency preparedness and response headed by the Office of Civil Defense which is joined by the Department of Health, Bureau of Fire and other government agencies,” he added.
Camba also assured the public that they are ensuring that the air, sea, and land are all fully secure as ASEAN leaders and delegates start trooping to Manila in the coming days.
“We are involving, mobilizing all the government agencies to support our hosting (of the ASEAN Summit) and to ensure that we conclude this peacefully,” Camba said.
He also appealed to Filipinos to unite for the successful hosting of the event to be attended by leaders from 11 ASEAN member states and dialogue partners like the US, China, Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, Russia and Canada.
“Ang pakiusap natin na magtulungan tayo, iyong bayanihan spirit natin para iyong hosting natin ay maitawid natin ng maayos itong hosting ng ASEAN kasi dangal ng Pilipino ang naka taya dito, dangal ng Pilipinas (We appeal for everyone to work together, to embody the spirit of cooperation, so that we may successfully carry out our hosting of the ASEAN; after all, the honor of the Filipino, the honor of the Philippines, is at stake here,” he said.
ASEAN comprises Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. (PNA)
(PNA photo by Avito Dalan)
