Photos released by the US Embassy show American Ambassador Kristie Kenney and Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan lead groundbreaking ceremonies in Jolo town in the southern Philippines on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008.
SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 15, 2008) – The United States pledged more support to peace and development efforts in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, where American forces are training local troops.
Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan said US Ambassador Kristie Kenney was in the province on Tuesday and launched various development projects, among them the repair of the airport runway and the water system in the capital town of Jolo.
"We are thankful to the US government for its continued support to peace and development in Sulu. My people are forever grateful to all these humanitarian projects," Tan told reporters.
He said the projects are worth some $3.7 million and on top of the more than $190 million pledged by Washington last year for infrastructure and other development and humanitarian projects in Mindanao.
Tan said the airport runaway will be expanded to more than 1,800 meters so it could accommodate bigger passenger planes not only from Manila or Zamboanga, but from neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei that makes up the East Asia Growth Area (EAGA), a sub-regional economic cooperation initiative in Southeast Asia that included the Philippines.
At present, only small planes such as the Seair's 19-seater passenger aircraft now serving the Jolo-Zamboanga route. So far, the biggest plane that could land at Jolo airport is the military's C-130 cargo plane.
Tan said the project was made possible because President Glorial Arroyo have sought the funding for the rehabilitation of the airport.
He said the completion of the airport repair will boost investments in Sulu province. "Several local and foreign investors have already expressed their intent to set up businesses here," he said.
He said the rehabilitation of the airport is expected to be completed next year.Tan and Kenney led US and Filipino officials in the ground breaking ceremonies in Jolo town.
"This will improve development and give the citizens of Jolo a chance to be connected to the rest of the Philippines. More importantly, it will give the rest of the country and the world a chance to discover Jolo," Kenney said.
Total air passenger traffic to Jolo grew 30 percent in 2006-2007, making it difficult at times to get seats on existing flight routes, while cargo movement more than quadrupled, according to data from the Air Transportation Office.
"With this development, Sulu can now aim high and be competitive with the rest of the country in opening a gateway for market linkages to promote their local products," Kenney said.
The airport improvement project is being completed in partnership with the Department of Transportation and Communications, Civil Aviation Authority, the Sulu provincial government and the US Agency for International Development's Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.
Kenney also said the water project will upgrade the current pumping system by constructing a 200-cubic meter concrete reservoir, installing transmission pipelines totaling 2.5 kilometers long and replacing distribution pipelines and defective meters.
The project will enable the Jolo Water District to provide potable running water to approximately 70,000 residents of Jolo and adjacent villages in Indanan and Patikul towns.
Kenney said the water project will be undertaken through the joint efforts of the Sulu provincial government, Local Water Utilities Administration, Jolo Water District, and the GEM Program.
"America is proud to be among the many partners in this project," she said.
Kenney and Tan also visited the Mohammad Tulawie Central School, a beneficiary of USAID education and workforce preparation assistance, and she read books with students.US troops are currently training Filipino forces in Sulu and are active in humanitarian missions.
They have built schools, roads and clinics, among others worth over $10 million since 2006 in the province, according to Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of military forces in Sulu. (Mindanao Examiner)
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