PIODURAN PEOPLE GRATEFUL FOR BALIKATAN ROAD PROJECT

UNCLAS MANILA 000984 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV PREL RP SUBJECT: PIODURAN PEOPLE GRATEFUL FOR BALIKATAN ROAD PROJECT ¶1. The municipal council of Pioduran, Albay Province passed a resolution April 27 expressing gratitude and appreciation to the U.S. government for its assistance in the rehabilitation of a key road in their community as part of the recently concluded 2009 Balikatan military exercise. A combined U.S.- Armed Forces of the Philippines military team built four culverts, raised the elevation of the road to alleviate washout areas, dug drainage ditches along the sides, and crowned the road to mitigate erosion. This "farm to market" road connects two small rural communities and will facilitate the farmers' access to the local port. The council passed the resolution in anticipation of the Ambassador's April 28 visit to Pioduran (septel) and subsequently delivered it to the Ambassador with the request that it be officially transmitted to President Obama. The Pioduran road project is one of many such civil affairs projects during the annual Balikatan military exercises that benefited the people of the Philippines. Post will REPORT on Balikatan and other projects septel. ¶2. The council's resolution underscores the importance of continued bilateral U.S.- Philippine military exercises in bringing much needed aid and development to Philippine communities. Such projects foster good will and promote a positive image of America at the grass roots level of society. The approximately USD $103,000 spent on the Malidong - Buenavista road is an investment that will immediately help the more than 2,000 residents of this agricultural community and will pay dividends for years to come, both for the people of Pioduran and the United States. The complete text of the resolution follows below. ¶3. Begin text of resolution: RESOLUTION 09-29 Resolution expressing gratitude and appreciation of the people of Pioduran, Albay to the U.S. Government thru the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Her Excellency Kristie A. Kenney for the conduct of CMO-INCAP (Civil Military Operation - Infrastructure Civic Action Project) of the RP-US Balikatan in the municipality. WHEREAS, the municipal officials and the people of Pioduran, Albay, Philippines are forever grateful to the government of the United States of America for rehabilitation of 3km Malidong-Buenavista farm to market road in Pioduran, Albay, Philippines; WHEREAS, the said project will benefit more or less 2,000 inhabitants of the said area, mostly farmers, and lessen the cost of agricultural products in transporting to the market; WHEREFORE, RESOLVED, as it is hereby RESOLVED, to express as the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) and the people of Pioduran, Albay, Philippines hereby express their acknowledgment and lasting gratitude to the government of the United States of America, thru the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Her Excellency Kristie A. Kenney for the conduct of CMO-INCAP of the RP-US Balikatan in the municipality. RESOLVED FURTHER, that this resolution be officially transmitted to His Excellency Barack H. Obama II, President of the United States of America thru the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Her Excellency Kristie A. Kenney, Metro Manila, Philippines. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. I HEREBY CERTIFY to the correctness of the foregoing resolution. (Signatories) KENNEY