Same with the previous Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings in Bohol, no-sail and no fly zones will be enforced during the three-day conference of senior officials of the 10-nation bloc in Panglao next week.

According to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Tagbilaran commander Ensign Eric Salcedo, the policy will be implemented across Panglao and its nearby waters to ensure safety of the foreign dignitaries during their stay in the resort town from Sept. 19 to 21.

A maritime task force for the ASEAN conference has been formed to enforce the no-sail and no-fly zones and to implement heightened security in waters off Panglao.

The composite team is comprised of the PCG, Philippine Navy, Philippine National Police Maritime Group and PCG Auxiliary, all of which will be patrolling the area round-the-clock using floating assets including the DF 318, a swift-class patrol vessel, said Salcedo.

Around 200 delegates from the ASEAN including ministers and their staff are expected to arrive for the meeting in Panglao.

The event will be the second high-level ASEAN conference conducted in Bohol this year.

In April, ASEAN leaders held in the province talks involving the AHKFTA (Free Trade Agreement between ASEAN and Hong Kong) Trade Negotiating Committee, and related meetings.

The series of dialogues were held at the Hennan Resort in Panglao.

These were among 120 ministerial, senior official and technical working group meetings which will be conducted throughout the year mostly in the Philippines, the ASEAN Summit 2017 host. (R. Tutas)