Metro Cebu taxi drivers given added responsibilities for APEC, IEC

Metro Cebu's taxi drivers may have to transport delegates of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and International Eucharistic Congress to hospitals for free in case of medical emergencies.

 

This was one of the added responsibilities indicated at a seminar for taxi drivers in time for the two international events, the provincial government said.

 

It quoted cabbie Nestor Tesoro as saying he also learned from the seminar to report medical emergencies such as heart attacks, and bring the patient to the hospital for free.

 

At the seminar, Office of the Civil Defense 7 Engineer Neil Balaba also said taxi drivers could help track delegates and report incidents such as fires, floods, and sea and air mishaps.

 

Balaba reminded drivers not to leave APEC delegates despite language barriers and suggested they let delegates write down their destination.
 

APEC meetings in Cebu will last from August 24 until September 11, the provincial government said.

 

Meanwhile, the IEC will be held in Cebu from January 24 to 31, 2016.

 

“We are expecting around 15,000 visitors from different countries (for IEC) next year,” said Marlon Barrientos of the Department of Tourism.

 

“Taxi drivers have to be part of the support team of the government,” Barrientos added.

 

The provincial government said 131 taxi drivers from different operators participated in the APEC and IEC seminar. —Joel Locsin/MBP, GMA News