BIZ BUZZ: Pre-Asean rush grips PH
The rush is already palpable, with less than a week to go before Southeast Asia’s leaders descend on Manila for the much-anticipated summit capping the Philippines’ Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) chairship this year.
On the ground, getting around areas where the high-level engagements are set to take place is already proving challenging.
Behind the scenes, meanwhile, officials are grappling with a packed calendar of side events, with seemingly more engagements lined up than there is time to attend them.
President Marcos himself inspected the Philippine International Convention Center on Monday to make sure preparations were on track ahead of the leaders’ gathering.
But not all the last-minute housekeeping involves venues, transportation and schedules.
There is also the delicate task of managing expectations and ensuring that the Asean agenda, rather than other contentious issues, takes center stage.
One particular matter that Philippine and American officials have sought to put to rest is speculation surrounding the planned Pax Silica agreement.
Both sides have confirmed that no signing of the agreement will take place on the sidelines of the summit, a crucial clarification considering the protests being planned against the controversial technology hub that Manila and Washington intend to develop.
Adding to the political attention surrounding the gathering is the expected attendance of US President Donald Trump.
With the logistics being ironed out, schedules filling up and sensitive issues already drawing attention, the coming days show little breathing room for those organizing the summit.
And if this week is already a whirlwind, next week could well be the bigger storm.
Still, if the Philippines’ hosting delivers meaningful gains for Filipinos and other Southeast Asians who will not be inside those meeting halls, all the rush and commotion may well be worth it.
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