Kenney - Peace and Development in Mindanao is our No.1 Priority

Written by John Arnel C. Deleverio, on 03-06-2008 08:53

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Tags : kristie ann kenney, kenney, mindanao, usaid, gem, aurora, ramon magsaysay, amore, san miguel, alindahaw hotel, zamboanga del sur national high school

United States Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Ann Kenney in her visit to Pagadian City and Zamboanga del Sur on May 29, 2008, re-iterates that the outmost priority of the American government is to bring peace and development in Mindanao. When asked during a live interview in local radio station DXCA, why specifically in Mindanao, she answered, “Because Mindanao is the poorer part of the Philippines yet holds great promise.”

The purpose of the visit of the American ambassador here is to grace as Guest of Honor of the 1st Zamboanga del Sur Coastal Resource Management Summit and then formally turn-over projects recently instituted by the American government through the USAID (United States Agency for International Development) as assistance to the people of Zamboanga del Sur.

Ambassador Kenney during a distribution of books

In her speeches and interviews with the local media during the entire duration of her visit, US Ambassador Kenney revealed that the American government, through the USAID and its partner agencies, has been extending help and grants to the people of the province of Zamboanga del Sur particularly in the aspects like economic upliftment, education, protection of the environment and natural resources and health care. But Ambassador Kenney emphasized that there are more assistance to come in the future especially in health care which will intensify from 2008 to 2012 and environment and natural resources protection which has an allotment of 10 million US dollars per year. The USAID’s Growth for Equity in Mindanao (GEM) is now on 3rd phase of implementation of its projects beginning this year, she added.

The United States of America and Zamboanga del Sur

Accordingly, through a fact sheet distributed by the US embassy, the Americans, through the USAID’s Growth for Equity in Mindanao (GEM), were able to complete 45 small infrastructures in Zamboanga del Sur. Of which, these bridges, roads, boat landings, store sheds have benefited 120,000 local residents. Along with these, they helped 802 former muslim rebels make new leases on their lives by making them productive seaweed farmers. 19 communities were likewise given warehouses, transportation, solar dryers, rice mills, mobile treshers and the needed marketing ideas to increase farm income while on other hand they provided ample training and assistance for the production of bangus, tilapia, prawn, hito and high-value vegetables.

Ambassador Kenney at the Zamboanga del Sur National High School

In the aspect of education, the USAID, through its partner agencies, has made possible Internet access to 33 schools in the province now enjoyed by 31,000 local students and 900 teachers while at the same time gave the same amount raised by parent-teachers-community groups for school facilities that benefited 3 schools and 5,000 students.

Together with the Philippine Business for Social Progress, the USAID provided the training of health workers for the detection, prevention and treatment of TB in the towns of Aurora, Ramon Magsaysay, Tukuran and Pagadian City.

31 remote villages of the province now enjoy the innumerable benefits of solar-powered electricity through the help of USAID-supported Alliance for Mindanao-Off Grid Energy (AMORE).

Ambassador Kenney at the Provincial Capitol

Equally given importance too, is the protection of our natural resources and environment wherein they gave technical assistance to eight coastal communities along the Yllana Bay while giving grant to local partners in Tabina and Tukuran to protect and promote mangrove areas to become wildlife sanctuaries and eco-tourism destinations.

In her speech as the Guest of Honor during the opening of the 1st Zamboanga del Sur Coastal Resource Management Summit held at Alindahaw Hotel, in the morning of May 29, 2008, Kenney says that it is important to promote sustainable fishing in our waters which is considered as one of the most bio-diverse in Asia. “In order that our fishermen today have fish to catch tomorrow,” she added.

Kenney’s Visit

Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Governor Aurora E. Cerilles personally accompanied the US Ambassador during her entire visit. Immediately after arrival at around 7:30 AM, Kenney paid a courtesy call to the officials of the province of Zamboanga del Sur, where she was met by the jubilant provincial officials and employees. She then proceeded to Alindahaw Hotel for the coastal resource management summit.

A smiling Ambassador Kenney

After lunch, Kenney then proceeded to a remote village in San Miguel municipality to inspect and turn-over of solar power electricity being installed there. She then shuttled back to Pagadian City to spearhead book distribution event at the Zamboanga del Sur National High School main campus. The people of Zamboanga del Sur got the chance of hearing the ambassador over the radio when she opted for a live interview right before she took off for Manila at around 3:30 PM.

Last update : 09-06-2008 16:11

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