President Arroyo inaugurates P68 million USAID road project, military hospital in Sulu

President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo inaugurated Monday a multi-million pesos road project and a military hospital in Sulu island, where US anti-terror trained Filipino soldiers are hunting the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group.

The two projects, with a combined cost of P68 million, are the P49 million USAID-GEM-MEDCO Parang-Indanan Road Project in Barangay Saldang, Parang town, and the P19 million Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Trauma Hospital in Jolo town.

Sulu Governor Banjamin Loong, Medco Chairman Rey Leyretana, US Deputy Chief of Mission Paul Jones, and USAID Country Director Jon Linborg, assisted the President in the ribbon cutting ceremony and unveiling of the marker of the newly completed road project in Parang.

After the ceremony, the President flew to the Army's 104th Brigade Headquarters in Jolo town to inaugurate the newly completed military trauma hospital and to hold a command conference with top brass of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

During the command conference with top military officials, the President said the Philippines will continue to be a strong player in security and trade, in fighting poverty and building prosperity.

"This is our commitment to the Filipino people to all the peoples of East Asia and to all our allies like the United States," she said. "We thank our Amercian allies for contributing that road through the Growth with Equity in Mindanao project of the USAID."

"This is only one of the many examples of how our Filipino and American troops and officials have been working together and bringing prosperity to areas like this beautiful island of Sulu."

The president also commended the Armed Forces for the successful operation against the Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), "which only proves that these terrorist elements have nowhere to hide and are in fact already doomed to annihilation."

"Our fight against terror goes hand in hand with the global and regional effort; and as we face the ASEAN summit, we would like to assure all our allies in East Asia and beyond that the Filipino soldiery and people are on watch every hour of the day, determined to do their share to defeat terror for a more secure and safer world."

"Our meetings in Cebu will sustain the momentum in our collective fight against terror and in mopping up all forms of instability that affect the run of trade, cooperation and people to people solidarity in this part of the world."

After the inauguration of two projects in Sulu province, the President flew to Misamis oriental to grace the opening ceremonies of the 77th anniversary celebration of the province. (HG)