Aid pledged for development of southern areas

The U.S., Canada, and the non-governmental organisations from abroad have poured in assistance and pledged help in war-torn Jolo, a stronghold of the hostage-taking Abu Sayyaf group in the southern Philippines.

Francis Ricciardone, the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, has pledged more aid from his country, as he reiterated his government's policy of mutual security amid global threat of terrorism.

He said: "Mindanao will grow the Philippines out of poverty."

"Good things" would grow out of efforts to tame unrest in southern Philippines through socio-economic development, he said.

Ricciardone said the island can become an economic player in the world because of its vast potentials for tourism and business.

Ricciardone praised President Gloria Arroyo for her commitment towards the war against terrorism.

At the same time, Robert Collette, the Canadian Ambassador to Manila, commended the military and Arroyo for the great improvement in Basilan, another stronghold of the extremist Abu Sayyaf group.

Canada has promised to send a $1 million Canadian aid for the construction of schools and hospitals in Zamboanga, where the southern command is located.

In Honolulu, Admiral Thomas Fargo, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Command (CINCPAC), assured the Philippines of continued U.S. support for the armed forces modernisation programme and anti-terror campaign.

The U.S. government had originally pledged $55 million for an anti-terror programme, but the amount was recently slashed by half.

At the same time, the Philippines government and various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the U.S. jointly launched a short-term medical intervention and long-term development programme for Sulu, a statement from the palace said.

The project, called the development for peace in Sulu (DPIS), is meant to restore peace and order in war-torn Sulu, said Al Santoli, senior vice president of the American foreign policy council (AFPC).

The DPIS programme became the recipient of a $1 million worth of medicine and medical equipment per year for the next three years, to Jolo hospitals. It was recently launched in Jolo.

The U.S. donors are packaging a shipment of antibiotics, pain relievers, cough and cold preparations, and other medicines for Jolo, said Santoli, adding the medical aid programme in Jolo will be a pilot project, which must be replicated in other war-torn areas of the country.

The AFPC's medical aid will uplift the social conditions of the people of Jolo.