"TG Bohol" off to last mission:

Secure ASEAN ICHR meetings

TAGBILARAN CITY, November 24 (PIA)--Into their last mission of securing the eight days that the delegates comprising of senior officials' and ministers' (SOM) stay in Bohol for the last leg of the Bohol hosting of the meetings, Task Group Bohol (TGBohol) only needs to keep its record clean: No ASEAN related incidents during the duration. 

Although set for November 26 to 29, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights top level meetings in at least three venues in Panglao, would have to get teams working two days before and two days after the formal events, Bohol Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Officer (DRRMO) Anthony Damalerio said. 

The PDRRMO sits among the team of 21 government agencies under Task Group Bohol tasked to coordinate the three major tasks as the ASEAN delegates are here for the meeting duration. 

These are Task Force (TF) on Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) which is under the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), TF on Peace and Order and TF on Security , TGBohol Deputy Commander Brig. General Arnulfo Matanguihan explained during the send-off ceremony after a holy mass for the volunteers at the Panglao Plaza Nov 24.

Engr. Ver Neil Balaba heads the TF EPR, PSSupt Dennis Agustin heads the TF Peace and Order and Police Senior Superintendent (PSSupt) Franklin Moises Mabanag leads the TF Security. 

Philippine National Police Regional Director PCSupt Jose Mario Espino is the over-all TG Bohol Commander.

Matanguihan pointed out that the ASEAN National organizing committee initially schedules one meeting in Bohol but the success of the first hosting, despite the Abu Sayyaf incident in Inabanga and nearby towns, caused the holding of succeeding ASEAN meetings here. 

A total of 3,762 personnel from 21 government agencies comprise the security task force deployed for the 275th of the 282 scheduled ASEAN meetings which the Philippines is hosting during this 50th founding anniversary of the 10 Asian nation bloc, added PSSupt Dennis Agustin. 

For this last mission for the ASEAN, Bohol governor Edgar Chatto who has to rush in from Ubay to be with the deployment ceremonies told the TGBohol members that they have already graduated and would need this one last task to really claim the graduation with flying colors. 

During the duration, expect above normal security protocols especially for the airport, port of Tagbilaran, the three resorts in Panglao where the venues of the meetings are set and the highway that stretches from Tagbilaran to the venues in Panglao. 

Aside from that, as a Bohol treat to guests coming in here, a customary tour Bohol would bring the over 300 SOM and support staff including national secretariat to countryside tours, so it might not come as a surprise if security personnel are strewn along the way to the Chocolate Hills in Carmen. 

The Department of Tourism during the coordination meeting set Wednesday at the Philippine Ports Authority Multi-Purpose Hall in the Port of Tagbilaran has hinted the tour as part of the meeting itinerary. 

While sending off, the governor told the TGBohol members that the their steadfast efforts in making the Bohol hosting a success has made Boholanos safer even with the visitors coming in. 

As he said this, he also relayed the people's appreciation and thanks for the successful accomplishment of the assigned tasks as he also called for more cooperation, unity and partnership towards synergy in Bohol. (rach/PIA-7/Bohol)