Sulu thanks outgoing US envoy Kenney
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The governor of Sulu, one of the southern Philippine provinces that benefited from US assistance, has nothing but praises to outgoing US Ambassador Kristie Kenney.
"On behalf on my people, we thank the good Ambassador Kristie Kenney, who was a frequent visitor of Sulu, for her many contribution to peace and development. And forever, we will be grateful to her," Gov. Sakur Tan said Thursday.
Kenney, who will end her tour of duty in the country this month after more than three years, was a frequent visitor in Sulu where she led the inaugurations of infrastructure projects funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Tan said it was also during Kenney’s time that Washington, through the USAID and the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, poured millions of dollars worth of humanitarian and development projects, including the rehabilitation of the airport in Jolo town.
Kenney, along with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, inaugurated last month the extended runway of the Jolo Airport.
"I can’t help but beam with added pride that of the many matters that demand the attention of then President George Bush and President Arroyo when they met in Australia, the need of Sulu for an expanded airport runway was included in their agenda," Tan said.
“Now, as history had witnessed, we have inaugurated the completed extended runway of the Jolo Airport, and rightly so, President Arroyo and Ambassador Kenney were in Sulu to grace the occasion," he added.
Sulu, one of five provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), has been the site of many clashes involving the Philippine military and the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, who considers the province as one of its bailiwicks.
Most of the American infrastructure projects in Sulu – roads, schools, bridges, health centers, buildings and water projects – were built by US troops who belong to the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines and assisted by their Filipino counterparts.
A few hundred US soldiers are deployed in Sulu to train local troops and assist the military in fighting terrorism.
President Barack Obama has designated Harry Thomas Jr. as the new ambassador to the Philippines. He will be the first Black American US envoy to Manila.- Al Jacinto/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV
"On behalf on my people, we thank the good Ambassador Kristie Kenney, who was a frequent visitor of Sulu, for her many contribution to peace and development. And forever, we will be grateful to her," Gov. Sakur Tan said Thursday.
Kenney, who will end her tour of duty in the country this month after more than three years, was a frequent visitor in Sulu where she led the inaugurations of infrastructure projects funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Tan said it was also during Kenney’s time that Washington, through the USAID and the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, poured millions of dollars worth of humanitarian and development projects, including the rehabilitation of the airport in Jolo town.
Kenney, along with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, inaugurated last month the extended runway of the Jolo Airport.
"I can’t help but beam with added pride that of the many matters that demand the attention of then President George Bush and President Arroyo when they met in Australia, the need of Sulu for an expanded airport runway was included in their agenda," Tan said.
“Now, as history had witnessed, we have inaugurated the completed extended runway of the Jolo Airport, and rightly so, President Arroyo and Ambassador Kenney were in Sulu to grace the occasion," he added.
Sulu, one of five provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), has been the site of many clashes involving the Philippine military and the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, who considers the province as one of its bailiwicks.
Most of the American infrastructure projects in Sulu – roads, schools, bridges, health centers, buildings and water projects – were built by US troops who belong to the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines and assisted by their Filipino counterparts.
A few hundred US soldiers are deployed in Sulu to train local troops and assist the military in fighting terrorism.
President Barack Obama has designated Harry Thomas Jr. as the new ambassador to the Philippines. He will be the first Black American US envoy to Manila.- Al Jacinto/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV
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