I hope this blog doesn’t sound too much like a commercial for U.S. development projects. I don’t want to be taking undue credit for the United States or come across as merely a cheering section. But I am encouraged at the positive changes taking place in Tawi-Tawi and at the results of the combined efforts of many people and many groups.
Tawi-Tawi is literally at the far end of the Philippines. It is a beautiful island, surrounded by turquoise waters. The island roads hug the shoreline and any drive there features stunning vistas of palm-lined beaches and small houses. Tawi-Tawi is home to a branch of Mindanao State University and features a superb program in Mari-culture. But Tawi-Tawi is also far from the Philippine centers of commerce and close to routes used by terrorists and smugglers.
I have been to Tawi-Tawi many times, and each time I see progress. This last trip – a week ago – I saw some significant steps forward. We inaugurated a new airport – a runway capable of landing commercial aircraft. The airport was a joint project with grant assistance from USAID and significant input from both the national and local governments of the Philippines. At the airport inaugural event were the members of Tawi-Tawi Chamber of Commerce who eagerly told of their work to convince commercial airlines to start service there and were energized at the new markets they would have in the rest of the Philippines. They weren’t looking for anyone to make efforts on their behalf. They were eager, ready and organized to sell themselves as a destination and to promote their products.
Later in the day, I met with former MNLF combatants who live on Tawi-Tawi. These former combatants received assistance from USAID a few years ago in becoming seaweed farmers under the “Arms to Farms” program. Now, they proudly told me, they have graduated to even higher value products – growing abalone in hatcheries and cultivating good markets for this product. They were forming cooperatives and engaging with the business community to market products.
It was uplifting to see the progress, and the excitement about the future was palpable. I can’t promise that the road ahead for Tawi-Tawi will be totally smooth. But I can see that there is a road ahead and that the future has been seized by the local citizens. Positive change is possible and is worth our investment.
Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney is a career United States diplomat who has served since 2006 as the first female U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines.
Comments (8)
Sara Simeunovic
August 27, 2009 at 14:55 EDT
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Dear Ambassador,
Thank you for your recent post “Change is Possible”. It is empowering and encouraging to see more economic and social development taking place in other regions of the Philippines. Incredible things can happen to a people group when resources, belief, and confidence are spoken into their community.
Our US development project located in the Philippines has been active now for a little over 2 years. Although change might come slower than expected, more costly than anticipated, or even more difficult than our capabilities…. when the hospital is built or the school is finally running all I can do is know one thing, “Change IS possible!”
Jesus Berenguer Lintag
Location: L.P. City
August 28, 2009 at 03:55 EDT
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May I suggest some projects subject to feasibility studies?
Cannery and food processing. Fish, squid and other aquatic resources are rich off the islands of Southern Mindanao. Once processed and/or canned, the finished products can be shipped for export with quotas for local consumption. Project situs will depend on the availability of anchorages and port facilities. A full production cannery will open markets for suppliers. This in turn will provide dollar export income to all stakeholders.
Frozen king or queen crab, prawns and shrimps will provide suppliers with income too. Markets like Taiwan, Japan and Mainland Asia are good.
Vegetable oil processing plants is another good option for agri-source oil suppliers to plant processed finished products.
More power to your development projects! This concept planning wins hearts and minds and prevents the spread of mischief brought about by insurgency, terrorism and so-called secessionist movements.
Way to go…. Madame Ambassador!
Kristie Kenney
September 2, 2009 at 22:17 EDT
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Thanks for some great ideas. One of our goals is to get as much private sector involvement in these sectors as possible. They are the key to lasting growth and I have seen in so many parts of the country what a diffrence an energized business community can make.
VICENTE CALIBO DE JESUS
Location: 10 M.L.Quezon St., Tugatog, Malabon City 1470, Philippines
August 30, 2009 at 02:34 EDT
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Dear Ambassador Kenney,
I’m impressed by your tireless effort to advance amity, goodwill, mutual respect between the U.S. and our country, the Philippines.
No doubt your great work will be rewarded with the Republic’s highest decoration, the Order of Sikatuna Award.
There’s one problem, the decoration is based on a hoax. See Wikipedia on this, click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Sikatuna
Malacanang is not inclined to correct the situation, and our National Historical Institute is averse to do anything.
It will be tragic if your outstanding work here will be crowned with this hoax.
VICENTE C. DE JESUS
ginesdemafra@gmail.com
For references, click
http://www.google.com.ph/search?q=VICENTE+CALIBO+DE+JESUS&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rlz=1R1GGGL_en___PH340&client=firefox-a
Jesus Berenguer Lintag
Location: L.P. City
August 31, 2009 at 10:17 EDT
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Madame Ambassador:
I am a sportfishing enthusiast and subscribe to the philosophy of: “teaching a man how to fish…” This will lead to seeding more fish to provide sustenance to the persons who fish.
May I suggest a freshwater fish seeding program in Luzon as a pilot project. This can be done under your leadership thru U.S. AID and other stakeholder support programs.
The idea is to seed all rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, brooks and streams with sportfish like Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass, Tilapia, Catfish, Carp and other food species.
More food fish means more sustenance to feed people. This will prevent lawlessness and insurgency recruitment and help win hearts and minds in the long run.
Perhaps you can point lead by sending in improved Largemouth Bass strains or Striped Bass. A support information program can teach conservation, declaration of protected areas and even commercial raising of sportfish for seeding as a means of raising income for the marginalized strata of Philippine society. LMB can be fishpond raised and marketed as food fish or for seeding purposes.
I hope the embassy supports a gamefish tournament intended to build Fil-Am relations and institutionalize rod and reel recreational fishing.
Thank you for your time and more power!
Rolf
Location: Manila
September 14, 2009 at 02:03 EDT
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Your proposal is interesting in that it relates sport fishing with providing livelihoods to poor fishers and increasing public awareness on fishery management and conservation. The Philippine government, through the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) has been involved in fish seeding in lakes, rivers and fishponds as a response to increasing food for artisanal fishers. However, we need to be careful about any introduction of fish species as this may compete with indigenous fish and lead to adverse effects like what happened with the introduction of a carnivore catfish from Thailand in 1972 that wiped out the natural population of the native catfish. Currently, USAID is providing support to ecosystems-based fishery management efforts in the country in partnership with Local Government Units and key stakeholders with emphasis on capacity building and integrated management actions. I would direct you to the websites of DA-BFAR (http://www.bfar.da.gov.ph/) for information on fish seeding and dispersal and the Central Luzon State University (http://www.clsu.edu.ph/) for other information on exotic and invasive aquatic species in the Philippines. Thank you for sharing your ideas with us!
Rolf Anderson - USAID Philippines
Anya Plana
Location: Washington, DC
September 3, 2009 at 23:09 EDT
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Dear Madam Ambassador,
Thank you for modernizing the way the US Embassy in Manila communicates by writing a blog. I am unduly impressed by this — this is the first time I know who the US Ambassador to the Philippines is and the good one does through specific acts in fostering cordial relationships between nations.
Ambassadors like you are truly deserving of the name. You walk the talk. Mabuhay!
JOHNATHAN L ALBOREZ
Location: Las Vegas, NV
September 7, 2009 at 02:53 EDT
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Madam Ambassador;
First and foremost, I want to express my belated congratulations to you on your appointment as U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines by President Bush. As one of the few millions of Filipino-Americans in the United States, I truly felt that nothing is more honorable and rewarding than your current position.
I am an avid basketball fan, and I’m proud and thrilled for Mr. Spoelstra as the first Filipino-American to make it to the game’s highest level of competition- the NBA. I am presently serving on active duty in the U.S. Navy- the world’s finest and most powerful navy, and I’m very thankful that you finally came onboard the USS George Washington in Manila. I hope to meet you in person to thank you personally for your extraordinarily wonderful service to the Philippines. I want to congratulate you once again and wish for your continued success in your profession.
God bless you,
Johnathan L. Alborez
Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center
United States Navy