US Chargé d’Affaires to visit Zamboanga

US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Paul W. Jones (2nd from right), Mayor Celso Lobregat (2nd from left) and other top American officials huddle during the turnover ceremony of USAID/GEM’s Computer Literacy and Internet Connection (CLIC) Program recently at Talisayan Elementary High School in Zamboanga City. (HADER GLANG)

United States Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Paul W. Jones will pay a one-day visit to Zamboanga City on Friday, August 25, for inspection of US-government sponsored projects and meeting with political and business leaders.

Jones will join with Mayor Celso Lobregat in a tour of the U.S. Government-sponsored HIV/AIDS Sentinel Surveillance Site at the Zamboanga City Social Hygiene Clinic, City Health Compound, Petit Barracks Street.

With American support, Zamboanga City has embarked on a robust HIV/AIDS education, outreach, and control program. This clinic is one of only 10 “sentinel sites” in the country that study HIV/AIDS statistics.

He will also grace the Closing Ceremony of the Tudlo Mindanao program, which is a weeklong English language-training program conducted by the US Peace Corps and USAID for Mindanao teachers.

In two sessions, 128 teachers receive free training on how to teach academic subjects in English, as well as learn information and communication technology. These teachers then will return to their schools and train other teachers in the techniques they learned.

Immediately following the ceremony, the American official together with Dr. Udtog Kawit, Al Haj, OIC Secretary of the ARMM’s Department of Education will hold a press conference at the Grand Astoria Hotel, Zamboanga.

Chargé Jones is currently serving as the head of the US Mission to the Philippines in the Ambassador’s absence from Manila. He is also Peace Corps’ Country Director for the Philippines and the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, where he helps direct American policy in the Philippines. (PRESS RELEASE)