Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella said yesterday that he will order the police and military to exercise maximum tolerance should rallies be held during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference next week.

However, Puentevella said, they will not issue permits for rallies during the APEC meeting, when informed about the plans of militant and labor groups to stage a rally next week during the visit of the President on Thursday.

They will also provide the necessary support to ensure the safety of President Benigno Aquino, he said.

Puentevella said the police and military will exercise maximum tolerance as long as the protestors do not disturb the APEC meeting.

He noted that most cities are also confronted with the same problem.

Meanwhile, Puentevella said Bacolod City is 90 percent ready to host the APEC conference on April 29 to 30.

The conference on “Disaster Risk Finance-APEC Roadmap for Resilient Economies” will be held at the SMX Convention Center that will start at 8 a.m.

Puentevella said the rehabilitated road that stretches from Burgos Street to BREDCO seaport at the Reclamation Area will be passable on Sunday and they are only waiting for the Department of Public Works and Highways to officially turn over the project.

He said all the hotels are also ready for the delegates of the 21-member countries of APEC.

A welcome dinner will be hosted by the city on April 28 at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds and will see around 100 for the delegates with 15 APEC-National Organizing Committee members led by Director General Marciano Paynor and representatives from host agency, Department of Finance.

A 3-hour guided city tour on April 30 will start at the SMX to the Negros Museum, Provincial Capitol, Negros Museum and Balay Negrense in Silay.

Puentevella also ordered various agency heads of the city to clear the streets of tricycles and pedicabs starting April 28.*CGS

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