PRESIDENT ARROYO CONFERS AWARDS ON PEACE CORPS

UNCLAS MANILA 002076 SIPDIS PASS TO PEACE CORPS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL CASC RP SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ARROYO CONFERS AWARDS ON PEACE CORPS REFS: A) Manila 1171; B) Manila 1189; C) Manila 1229 ¶1. (U) On June 11, President Arroyo honored the Peace Corps with the presentation of two Order of the Golden Heart awards. The Order of the Golden Heart gives official recognition to Filipino or foreign citizens who have rendered distinguished service or volunteerism in the service of the Filipino people. The award conferred the rank of Officer to slain Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell and Grand Cross to the overall Peace Corps. A Peace Corps Volunteer and the Country Director accepted the awards in front of an audience including the Foreign Secretary of the Philippines, Chief of Police, Head of Armed Forces and Executive Secretary, U.S. Ambassador, Embassy and Peace Corps staff. ¶2. (U) Since 1961, more than 8,000 Peace Corps volunteers have servedin the Philippines. Currently, they work in 38 prvinces in programs focusing on vulnerable youth,education, and environment. ¶3. (U) Following thepresentation ceremony, President Arroyo spoke wih Ambassador, the Peace Corps Director, other staf, and a Volunteer. The President praised the Peae Corps program and remarked that the work in Enlish language teaching is a critically needed conribution to the economic development of the Philipines. President Arroyo also cited Julia Campbells role in aiding typhoon victims in Bicol. She paised all the volunteers who worked to aid victis of typhoons, floods and mudslides last year in Biol. The Peace Corps Director described current eforts to start a Crisis Corps operation in the Pilippines that will support planning for and delvery of assistance to disaster victims in the postdisaster period to help people get reestablished n their communities and become economically prodctive again. President Arroyo welcomed this Peac Corps initiative and commented that this is preciely the aspect of disaster relief assistance tha the Philippines needs. ¶4. (U) More than 50 medi representatives attended the ceremony, and spok with the Ambassador, Peace Corps Director, and a volunteer after the event. Coverage repeatedly referred to and highlighted the long-term development and humanitarian contributions of the Peace Corps in the Philippines. Photos and articles appeared in nearly all of the daily national newspapers, including a front-page photo and article in the Philippines' largest daily newspaper. National television also covered the ceremony. KENNEY