US to Focus on ?Peace, Prosperity? in Mindanao — Envoy

By Cheryll D. Fiel
davaotoday.com

Amb. Kenney in Davao, June 22. (davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan)DAVAO CITY — “Peace and prosperity” are the focus of the US government’s efforts in Mindanao, US ambassador Kristie A. Kenney said during her visit to Davao City this week.

“We continue to work,? Kenney replied to a question regarding the US government’s financial and military assistance to the Philippines during a brief meeting with the media at the Marco Polo Hotel. ?I think our real focus at this point is on peace and prosperity.”

She emphasized that, on the security side, the US government is not working only with the armed forces and the police. The US is doing this, she said, “in a variety of ways,” such as through development, agricultural, education and health assistance programs.

(more…)

Continue ReadingUS to Focus on ?Peace, Prosperity? in Mindanao — Envoy

?Mega-Region? Concept Excites Execs

TAGUM CITY ? Clustering provinces into a ?mega-region? enables one to support the other and could prove beneficial to Mindanao, officials said this week.

Davao del Norte Vice Governor Antonio Rafael ?Anthony? del Rosario praised the plan of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to lump provinces and regions into mega- or? supra-regions as an economic and development strategy,? a concept which the province of Davao del Norte implemented during the time of former Rodolfo del Rosario.

(more…)

Continue Reading?Mega-Region? Concept Excites Execs