AMBASSADOR AND PHILIPPINE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000850 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL KPAO RP EAID SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND PHILIPPINE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE HIGHLIGHT U.S.-PHILIPPINE PARTNERSHIPS IN COUNTRY'S POOREST PROVINCE ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. On March 31, the Ambassador made her third visit to the province of Tawi-Tawi. She was accompanied by Secretary of Agriculture Arthur Yap, the Chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO),Virgilio Leyretana, and the USAID/Philippines Mission Director. The visit provided an excellent opportunity to highlight U.S.-Philippines partnerships that promote peace and prosperity. Events included the launching of a USAID-constructed boat landing, the inauguration of an aquaculture facility, a visit to a seaweed gene bank and abalone R&D center at the local university, a tour of a U.S. civilian support ship providing assistance to U.S. Special Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and a meeting with members of the Tawi-Tawi Chamber of Commerce. In a meeting with the Provincial Governor and the Congressman representing Tawi-Tawi, the Ambassador also formally announced U.S. Government plans to support upgrading of the province's airport and construction of a key bridge-road project in the province. END SUMMARY. BACKGROUND: TAWI-TAWI: THE POOREST OF THE POOR ¶2. (U) Tawi-Tawi is one of the six provinces that comprise the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the southernmost region of the Philippines. Composed of some 300 islands, Tawi-Tawi has a population of approximately 350,000 and is ranked as the country's poorest province in the most recent government reports. However, Tawi-Tawi abounds with rich natural resources including marine resources and exotic fauna. One of the world's few remaining major nesting grounds for green turtles is found in this province on the Turtle Islands, near Malaysian Borneo. DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS IMPROVE LIVES ¶3. (U) USAID has been mounting economic and social development assistance projects in this conflict-affected province for many years. Following the signing of a peace accord in 1996 with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF),USAID programs provided livelihood training for 1,745 former combatants in Tawi-Tawi, primarily in seaweed farming. The carrageenan-from-seaweed industry originated in Tawi-Tawi in the 1970's, and is the most important economic activity of the province, with over half the labor force involved in seaweed farming. The Philippines is the world's largest producer of Eucheuma seaweeds (US$160 million in carrageenan and dried seaweed exported annually) and approximately 60% of the country's production comes from Tawi-Tawi ¶4. (U) Of the original group of 1,745 former combatants who became seaweed producers, 1,300 subsequently diversified into fish farming and almost 1,000 of these are now producing and selling their yield. Many of these will be among the first customers for the abalone fry produced in the high value marine hatchery, designed with technical assistance from USAID and recently turned over to local control. ¶5. (U) USAID partnered with the local branch of Mindanao State University (MSU) to develop a Seaweed Gene Bank and an Abalone R&D facility to sustain the seaweed production and the fish hatchery. The programs at the MSU facility, together with the fish hatchery, are intended to support producers who are targeting te lucrative and expanding Chinese market for Abaone and high-value fish like humpback grouper. uring a tour of the university, the Ambassador noed the contribution of the multiple regional and lcal partners that assisted in the development ofthese facilities. ¶6. (U) After the ceremonial inauguration of the USAID-financed boat landing which will serve the new fish hatchery and several neighboring communities, the Ambassador participated in a ceremony formally turning over the hatchery to the Province of Tawi-Tawi. During a brief tour of the new facility, the Ambassador met briefly with a group of former MNLF combatants who are now successful seaweed growers and fish farmers, and who will be among the first customers for the fingerlings and fry produced by the hatchery. THE AMBASSADOR ANNOUNCES KEY INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERSHIPS ¶7. (SBU) During her office call with Governor Sadikul Sahali, the Ambassador formally announced support of two key infrastructure projects, with funding by the United States under the "1207" program, to be undertaken by USAID in partnership with the Philippine government. The first will be expansion and extension of the Sanga-Sanga Airport runway in the capital city of Bongao. The second is the Tawi-Tawi Bridge Road Partnership Project. This will be a phased construction of interconnected roads and bridges connecting Sanga-Sanga Island and Tawi-tawi Island, the two main islands of Tawi-Tawi province. The U.S. contribution to these projects will be approximately USD $5 million. ¶8. (SBU) Following the turnover of the fish hatchery, the Ambassador escorted a contingent of local and national government officials aboard a civilian Maritime Support Vessel (MSV) which MANILA 00000850 002 OF 002 provides logistic support for the Joint Special Operations Task Force - Philippines for a tour and briefing about the ship. The MSV periodically operates in Tawi-Tawi waters, and the visit was arranged in order to make clear to local people was principally involved in supporting JSOTF civil affairs activities. ¶9. (U) At a visit to Mindanao State University's Tawi-Tawi campus, the Ambassador toured a Seaweed Gene Bank and Abalone R&D facility which had been established with USAID support. She noted the contribution of the multiple regional and local partners that had assisted in the development of these facilities. AMBASSADOR'S DISCUSSIONS WITH SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE ¶10. (U) During the day, the Ambassador had the opportunity to discuss a range of issues with the Secretary of Agriculture Arthur Yap (one of President's Arroyo's key advisors) including Philippine rice supply and the impact of economic development, especially agribusiness, in the overall effort to improve the lives of the poorest citizens of the Philippines. This improvement is linked to the country's counterterrorism struggle as six of the ten poorest provinces are located in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao. The Secretary noted the value of the fish hatchery model which he would SIPDIS like to be duplicated in other locations in the Philippines to capitalize on the country's potential to serve the growing demand for high-value aquaculture products, while stressing the critical role that Tawi-Tawi would play. A MESSAGE OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY ¶11. (U) Prior to departing Tawi-Tawi, the Ambassador was interviewed by the local radio station which broadcasts on the government system to the remote areas of Mindanao that are not able to receive commercial broadcasts. She reiterated her announcement of the two major infrastructure projects to be undertaken on the island and their importance to the development of Tawi-Tawi and the region. She also noted the ongoing efforts of the Philippine government in identifying and developing the potential of this resource rich province. Upon arrival in Zamboanga, she was interviewed for live broadcast in the Metro Manila region. ¶12. (SBU) COMMENT. Tawi-Tawi is strategically located in the tri-border region of the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia near areas of international terrorist activity. Infrastructure projects such as the fish hatchery and R&D facilities accelerates economic development, raises the standard of living and improves the prospect for long-term peace and security in the critical region. The community welcomes the U.S. - Philippines partnerships for these reasons and U.S. military support has also been well received. The Provincial Governor proudly wore a "USNS Mercy" hat given to him by the U.S. Government in 2006. Each of the government officials visited by the Ambassador and Secretary Yap emphasized their desire for increased partnerships with the United States. END COMMENT. KENNEY