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Ambassador Kenney Inaugurates PNP Special Boat Unit in Palawan, Meets With Local Leaders on Preserving Island’s Fish Trade Resources

U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney receives from Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Jesus Verzosa (second, left) and PNP Maritime Group Director Chief Superintendent Villamor Bumanlag (left) a scale model of the PNP Special Boat Unit (SBU) Headquarters building in Puerto Princesa during a ceremony August 24. Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagerdon (second, right) represented the city government, which donated the site for the SBU headquarters and provided some heavy equipment for site preparation. The PNP recruited and trained some 100 personnel to staff the SBU. The U.S. Government-funded facility will serve as a major tool of the PNP Maritime Group in securing Palawan’s territory and policing the island’s maritime environment.
U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney presents to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Jesus Verzosa (middle) and PNP Maritime Group Director Chief Superintendent Villamor Bumanlag (right) the symbolic key to the PNP Special Boat Unit (SBU) Headquarters building in Puerto Princesa during a ceremony August 24. Aside from funding the construction of the facility, U.S. assistance to the project includes six modern patrol boats that will be delivered by next year and training for SBU personnel in such fields as small craft operation, advanced navigation, firearms efficiency, and combating environmental crimes. A major tool of the PNP Maritime Group in securing Palawan’s territory and policing the island’s maritime environment, the SBU facility is part of U.S. partnership with the Philippines in combating problems of smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorism.
On board the World Wildlife (WWF)-Philippines’ boat, the MV Navorca , Ambassador Kenney joins local officials, and representatives of WWF and an association of local live fish traders in a discussion on the sustainability of local trade in live reef fish. With the Ambassador are WWF-Philippines chief executive officer Lory Tan (left), Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn (behind the Ambassador), and Taytay, Palawan Mayor Roberto Gonzalez (right). Palawan is estimated to supply 60% of the live reef fish that the Philippines sells abroad. Through its Coral Triangle Initiative, the U.S. Government funds programs for the sustainable trade in live reef fish in the Coral Triangle region that includes the Philippines.
Ambassador Kenney and students of the Taw Kabui center in Puerto Princesa do coloring exercises. The Ambassador visited this center for children with special needs during her August 24 trip to the Palawan capital. The center includes a four-classroom building that was constructed with assistance from the U.S. Peace Corps Partnership Program. A Peace Corps volunteer assigned to the social welfare office of the Puerto Princesa city hall also serves part-time in the center.

Last Update :: 09/01/2009

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