ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 23 Aug) – Manila will pursue a vigorous development and economic programs in an effort to defeat insurgency in the southern Filipino island of Jolo in the Sulu Archipelago, the Philippine News Agency said.
The island’s Governor Sakur Tan said Thursday that President Gloria Arroyo ordered government agencies to help develop Jolo and turn it into a progressive province in the Muslim autonomous region.
“Economic development has always been our primary weapon in addressing terrorism and other problems in the province,” said Tan, who was with the President in Zamboanga City.
Arroyo flew to Zamboanga City to preside over a military conference about the ongoing government operations against the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo and Basilan islands.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council said some 2,751 families have been affected by military operation in Jolo island.
“Despite military offensive, life goes on for everybody in my province. The government is really working hard to achieve peace and development not in the province, but in Mindanao as well,” Tan said.
He said Arroyo has instructed the Department of Trade and Industry to assist the province in the promotion and marketing of its products and other produce.
“There will be a C-130 plane that will transport our produce all the way to Manila and to department stores and supermarkets like Shoemart and Rustans.”
“We’ve just got a call from the Asia-America initiatives, this is the initiative of PGMA of bringing together all efforts of agencies of government in addressing problems of the provinces of Sulu and Basilan,” Tan said. (Jocelyn Alvarez, of the PNA and Mindanao Examiner)
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