Palawan
Governor Jose Alvarez is hopeful that the U.S. government’s interest in the
province would not only redound to security, and peace and order, but also to
development of the local economy and the people as he welcomed Thursday
afternoon Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg at the Provincial
Capitol here.
In
an interview following a dialogue he and Goldberg conducted with members of the
Palawan Chamber of Commerce (PCC) and the Palawan Tourism Council (PTC) at his
conference room, Alvarez described the interest of the U.S. government in
helping the province develop economically as “huge,” adding he was optimistic
of this to translate to development that the province needs badly.
“There
interest in Palawan is huge. In fact, it is
because of them that the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways)
allocated here over P3 billion for infrastructure,” Alvarez said.
He
added this is probably because the U.S.
government sees that President Benigno Aquino III is decanting around P 1.3
trillion funds to support infrastructure development, and in Palawan ,
the local government is aware where this needs to be placed.
“In
2014, and the coming years until 2016, they can see where the President is
putting funds, and they’re always discussing where to place this. Here in Palawan , of course, we know how to maximize this and
where to place this, right?” he said.
In
the cacao, coffee, and rubber projects, where the U.S. government is helping
through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-supported
COMPETE program, the governor said help is through the laying of ground works
and financial support provided through banks that act as “lending
institutions.”
“With
this, we hope that the support the U.S.
government is providing should redound not only to security, and peace and
order, but also development of Palawan , and
its people,” Alvarez said.
U.
S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg, who was in the city for an official visit,
expressed that with Palawan’s long historical relationship with the United
States, it is important that help is provided to bail out its residents from
the throes of poverty.
“A
thriving community means, a thriving province, and we’re interested in helping
make that happen with the engagement of the local government, like what your
governor is doing for your province,” Goldberg said.
Goldberg
said the business community’s focus is in the development of the tourism
industry, and clearly, it is one where a lot of potentials can be developed.
“Even
before I arrive in the Philippines ,
I already knew about Palawan . I knew about it
because there is a great interest, especially with some of the resorts here,
where American travelers dive and other great opportunities here in the tourism
area,” he said.
From
the dialogue with the business community, Goldberg said there is also an
interest to move forward to manufacturing, agriculture involving cacao, coffee
and rubber farming, information technology, and other industries that can
produce jobs for the Palaweños.
“There
are great challenges in the health sector, and areas where we can maybe help
also… so, yes… our interest also, goes beyond tourism, but it’s really to
continue to help our friends and partners here… our great allies as they
confront these problems. We have a very great history together… the United States and the Philippines ,
and here in Palawan , you can see it in
microcosm,” he said.
“Suffering
together and fighting together during World War II,” Goldberg said “there are
all kinds of things that bring the U.S.
and the Philippines ,
particularly Palawan together as people,” and
their people-to-people relationship is very strong.”
“We
are trying to build on all of that, and our trust is in trying to help the Philippines
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