EU ambassadors visit Caraga Region

CABADBARAN, Agusan del Norte — Ten ambassadors from ten European nations arrived here on Monday to visit European Union-sponsored projects of the Women’s Health and Safe Motherhood Program in Barangay Puting Bato.

Located at the foot of Mt. Hilong-Hilong, Caraga region’s tallest peak, Puting Bato is the site of various EU-sponsored pilot projects for livelihood programs and women health concerns.

EU Delegation head, Ambassador Jan de Kok of the European Commission told The STAR, that the European Union is personally committed to help improve the quality of life of the people in EU sponsored pilot project areas through the delivery of basic health services especially to the disadvantaged sector.

"We are hoping that our visit will help motivate the people of Mindanao particularly the Caraga region to work together for peace and development and implement wisely the funds granted by the EU for these funds are coming form European taxpayers themselves," De Kok said.

The EU visitors include Belgium Ambassador Christian Tanghe, French Ambassador Renee Veyret, German Ambassador Herbert Jess and wife Micheline Jess, Italian Ambassador Umberto Colessanti and his wife, Netherlands Ambassador Theo Arnold, Portugal Ambassador Joao Jose Caetano da Silva, Sweden Ambassador Ulf Hakansson and wife, UK Ambassador Paul Dimond and Czechoslovakian Ambassador Stanislao Slavicky.

Department of Health (DOH) spokesperson for Caraga Region Annabelle Saburnido told The STAR, the ambassadors were also scheduled to visit other EU sponsored projects in San Luis, Agusan del Sur and in Barangay Cagbaoto, Municipality of Bayabas in Surigao del Sur, some 27 kilometers away from the province’s capital town of Tandag.