ZAMBOANGA CITY: The United States pledged more support to peace and development efforts in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, where American forces are training local troops.
Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan said US Ambassador Kristie Kenney was in the province on Tuesday and launched various development projects, among them the repair of the airport runway and the water system in the capital town of Jolo.
“We are thankful to the US government for its continued support to peace and development in Sulu. My people are forever grateful for all these humanitarian projects,” Tan told Arab News.
He said the projects are worth some $3.7 million and on top of the more than $190 million pledged by Washington last year for infrastructure and other development and humanitarian projects in Mindanao.
Tan said the airport runaway will be expanded to more than 1,800 meters so it could accommodate bigger passenger planes.
At present, only small planes like the 19-seater passenger aircraft and the military’s C-130 cargo plane can land at the airport.
He said the rehabilitation of the airport is expected to be completed next year.
The airport improvement project is being completed in partnership with the Department of Transportation and Communications, Civil Aviation Authority, the Sulu provincial government and the US Agency for International Development’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.
