US legislators back economic fund for Mindanao

The US Senate Appropriations Committee chairman has given his commitment to back Congressional efforts to provide budget support for Mindanao development in anticipation of the conclusion of the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

US Senator Thad Cochran assured Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo during a meeting in Washington D last week that he will back US Congressional funding support for crucial issues such as economic support for Mindanao development, veterans equity and benefits and capacity building in the fight against terrorism.

"Senator Cochran, who is an old friend of the Philippines, having been in the Philippines to witness our efforts to restore our democracy in 1986, agreed that there is an urgent need to continue strengthening RP-US relations because of our common strategic interests and values, particularly the importance both our countries give to democracy and the rule of law," Romulo said.

Romulo, who chaired the Philippine-Initiative Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace at the United Nations Headquarters in New York last week, said there is strong bipartisan support in the US Congress for the Philippines.

"There is a lot of confidence in our leadership and governance. They have seen our willingness and sincerity in pursuing economic and fiscal reforms. They have seen our commitment to democracy and our determination to succeed. They want to support our efforts towards further success," he added.

The Secretary also met with three key US Congressional officials and received their commitments of support for US Congressional budgetary items for the benefits and entitlements of Filipino veterans and the economic development of Mindanao.

He had separate meetings with US Senators Diane Feinstein and Robert Bennet and Rep. Jim Kolbe.