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Ambassador Kenney Builds Bridges During July 6 Visit to Zamboanga

BRIDGES TOWARD EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT US Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney meets college students at the new Job Enabling English Proficiency (JEEP) Project speech laboratory established by Zamboanga City’s Western Mindanao State University in partnership with USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council. GEM’s JEEP Project employs laboratory learning with special software to provide college students with the English language skills needed for careers in business process outsourcing, tourism, nursing, allied health services and the maritime industry.
BRIDGING COMMUNICATION: US Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, with Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat at her side, chats with students of the Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School through the wireless wide area network, known as WiMax, established by Globe throughout Zamboanga City. The expanded telecoms infrastructure was installed with assistance from the local government and USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, which is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council. WiMAX provides city-wide mobile broadband internet access to Globe subscribers, and is expected to help boost the economy and draw business process outsourcing locators to Zamboanga. The high school was earlier provided with internet-connected computers and peripherals by GEM through its Computer Literacy and Internet Connection (CLIC) Project.
NEW FOOTBRIDGE: U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney cuts the ribbon at the 36-meter footbridge built in Tugbungan, Zamboanga City, by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program in partnership with the city government, for the benefit of 16,000 residents of the barangay and neighboring areas . With her are (l-r): Mayor Celso Lobregat; USAID Mission Director Jon Lindborg (in back); Usec. Virgilio Leyretana, chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo); Agustin Esperat Graciano Jr, Tugbungan’s barangay captain; and Ronaldo Ypil, project manager of GEM’s Barangay Infrastructure Project (BIP). The GEM Program, in collaboration with municipal governments and under the oversight of MEDCo, has to date completed more than 900 BIP infrastructure facilities in Mindanao.
JEEP, A BRIDGE TO KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney (far right) cuts the ribbon at the Job Enabling English Proficiency (JEEP) Project speech laboratory established by Zamboanga City’s Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) in partnership with USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program. With the Ambassador are (r-l) Usec. Virgilio Leyretana, chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council, which oversees implementation of the GEM Program; Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat; USAID Mission Director Jon Lindborg (in back); Dr. Grace Rebollos, WMSU president; and USAID Economic Growth Advisor Robert Barnes. GEM’s JEEP Project employs laboratory learning with special software to provide college students with the English language skills needed for careers in business process outsourcing, tourism, nursing, allied health services and the maritime industry.

Last Update :: 07/13/2009

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