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Ambassador Kenney Visits U.S. Programs in General Santos City; Turns Over Infrastructure Projects to Residents

During a February 17-18 visit to General Santos City, Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney visited the copra crushing plant of U.S. firm Cargill, Inc., which is one of the major producers of crude coconut oil and copra expeller cake/pellets in the Philippines. Both products are the Philippines' major agricultural export items to the United States, and the firm employs nearly 200 local residents. Pictured above, Ambassador Kenney listens to an explanation of how coconut oil is derived from copra.
In Purok Juluano, Malapatan, Sarangani Province, Ambassador Kenney turned over a boat landing funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that gives the approximately 120 small fishing boats that regularly ply these waters a safe, secure docking facility and efficient means of offloading their cargo. Pictured cutting the ribbon on the boat landing are (L to R) U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Paul W. Jones; Sarangani Province Governor Miguel A. Dominguez; Sapu Masia Barangay Captain Jemin Sambaga; Malapatan Mayor Alfonso Singcoy; Ambassador Kenney; and a USAID engineer.
Ambassador Kenney poses with local residents at the ceremony to open the American-funded boat landing in Purok Juluano, Malapatan, Sarangani Province. The boat landing is one of 815 small infrastructure projects being funded by the U.S. Government throughout the conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.
The American people built a footbridge at Bawing High School to allow students and teachers to safely get to class. Constructed with funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the bridge crosses a steep ravine and creek that students and teachers had to climb down and wade through in order to reach their classes, which was dangerous and often impossible during heavy rains. Pictured above, Ambassador Kenney crosses the newly built footbridge with General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr.
Students, teachers, and area residents attended the ceremonial turnover of the U.S.-funded footbridge at Bawing High School in General Santos City. Pictured above, Ambassador Kenney and General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. (right) cut the ribbon to open the bridge with the school's principal and visiting U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Doug Crowder, Commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet. The bridge crosses a steep ravine and creek that is dangerous and often impossible to cross during heavy rains.
During her visit to Bawing High School, General Santos City, Ambassador Kenney toured the computer center funded by the U.S. Government under USAID's Computer Literacy and Internet Connection (CLIC) Program. The school received computers and Internet connections under the program. While in General Santos City, Ambassador Kenney also toured several community programs created by personnel from the USS Blue Ridge. The ship visited Manila, Cebu, and General Santos City during its two-week visit to the Philippines, reflecting longstanding ties between our two countries as well as our continued commitment to work together to assist people in need of humanitarian outreach.
Learning about opportunities for business and investment partnerships benefiting area residents is important to the U.S. Government, and Ambassador Kenney explored this during a meeting with government and business leaders, including Governor Dominguez, Congressman Erwin Chiongbian, Mayor Singcoy, and Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio.
Ambassador Kenney was met at the General Santos City airport by officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and city officials, including General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. The American people support a wide range of programs in the General Santos City area, many of them in education, health, and infrastructure improvement. The airport was partially constructed with funding from the U.S. Government in the early 1990s. "We have such a great partnership throughout the Philippines but no where is it more obvious than in beautiful General Santos City," Ambassador Kenney said.

Last Update :: 02/20/2007

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