By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Local authorities are on alert as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings in Bacolod City begin today at the SMX Convention Center at SM City Bacolod.
Police Regional Office-18 (PRO-18) Director, Police Chief Superintendent Renato Gumban, said 4,273 personnel from different government and non-government agencies will oversee the event.
He said most of the police and army personnel have already been deployed at the Bacolod-Silay Airport, the SMX Convention Center, and various hotels in Bacolod City where delegates and participants will be staying.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia is expecting most delegates to arrive today, noting they plan on “doing everything” for them, in hopes they will become “ambassadors” for the city when they return home.
He said he wants to make them “promoters.”
During a send-off ceremony, yesterday morning, the mayor noted the existing 11 flagpoles in front of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), noting they can accommodate the flags of all 10 ASEAN members, along with the ASEAN flag.
It during the ceremony that Gumban presented the forces who will be watching over the city throughout the tenure of the meetings. He also expressed his confidence in the capabilities of the gathered personnel.
The meetings will be comprised of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting Responsible for Information (SOMRI), chaired by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Noel George Puyat, and will focus on ASEAN awareness./WDJ