RP wants more American assistance for Mindanao

Malacañang will press the United States to provide more economic assistance to Mindanao, an area considered a hotbed of terrorism.

At a press conference yesterday, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Philippines will make its case for a peace offensive during today’s meeting between President Arroyo and visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick.

"Everything seems to be a function of economics, and if our economy is assisted by a big and powerful country, such as the US, definitely there will be a general improvement in the overall conditions in the Philippines," he said.

Ermita noted that US military and economic aid to Mindanao have helped lessen anti-US sentiment in the area.

Regular joint military exercises between the Philippines and the US, which are accompanied by humanitarian and civic projects, have made residents more receptive to American initiatives and missions, he said.

Zoellick is on a two-day visit to Manila as part of a tour of several Southeast Asian countries.

His meeting with Mrs. Arroyo is expected to focus on economic, political and security issues and to "reaffirm bilateral ties" between the Philippines and the US.

Ermita said Malacañang also plans to brief Zoellick on its successes in the fight against terrorism, including pending anti-terrorism legislation and the arrests or killing of more than a hundred suspected terrorists.

"We’re going to make some impression that we’ve been reaping some success in our counter-terrorism campaign," he said.

Ermita said the Philippines would ask the US to increase its official development assistance (ODA) for Mindanao.

He said the government appreciates US economic development projects in Mindanao in addition to the traditional military assistance the US provides the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

"One of our bigger problems, especially on peace and security, is in the Southern Philippines," he said.

Zoellick, who graduated magna cum laude from the Harvard School of Law and has a Master of Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government, was confirmed by the US Senate on Feb. 16, 2005 and was sworn into office on Feb. 22.

Before his current appointment, Zoellick was the 13th US Trade Representative, a position he held from 2001.

He has served with Secretary of State James A. Baker III as Undersecretary of State for Economic and Agricultural Affairs.

Zoellick also served at the Department of Treasury in various positions, including counselor to Baker, executive secretary of the department, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions Policy.

Outside the government, Zoellick was Executive Vice President of Fannie Mae, the largest housing finance investor in the US.

Other countries that Zoellick will visit during his May 2—11 regional tour are Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore.

Zoellick will be here to observe the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. In Vietnam, he will observe the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and Vietnam. — With Pia Lee-Brago