Palace thanks US for $30-million aid

Malacañang thanked yesterday the United States for the $30 million in Economic Support Fund (ESF) for the Philippines earmarked in the budget for fiscal year 2003 that the US Congress has approved over the weekend.

Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said yesterday this $30 million, being provided under the US emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act (HR 1550) as approved by the US Congress, was specified to be used in "furthering the prospects for peace in Mindanao."

Bunye said the $30 million would be channeled to the peace and development programs in Mindanao as laid down by the administration of President Arroyo.

In a press statement he issued yesterday, Bunye expressed this official appreciation to the US government following the approval by the US Congress which was submitted to President George W. Bush to be signed into law.

"The additional economic assistance is a very strong signal of continuing US support for the Philippines in general, and for the Arroyo administration’s Mindanao peace policy in particular," Bunye pointed out.

In addition, he cited, the Bush Administration has signaled its intent to provide $30 million in Foreign Military Finance as counter-terrorism assistance for the Philippines in emergency supplemental appropriations.

"This has the support of the US Congress as well," Bunye noted.

In her speech yesterday, President Arroyo called upon the Muslim separatist rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to stop their continuing offensives against non-combatant civilians like those in Lanao del Norte where they launched their latest attacks last week.

"We will continue to give peace a chance (in Mindanao)," the President said.

Mrs. Arroyo made these renewed appeals yesterday in her address at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City where she led the graduation rites for the second batch of Metro Manila barangay tanods who underwent anti-crime and anti-terrorism training under the Public Safety College of the Philippines.