US businessmen eye Mindanao

In an effort to bring economic activity to Mindanao, the 2002 US ASEAN Business Council will extend its reach outside of Metro Manila and take a visiting delegation of top US companies to Mactan, Cebu.

In Cebu, the mission will host a roundtable briefing, focusing on Mindanao, to discuss economic, political and business issues with expert panelists from Mindanao and around the Philippines.

The delegation will also hold meetings and visits with senior Cebu officials and business people.

The US government, as part of its understanding with the Philippines, is trying to provide economic stimulus to Mindanao in exchange for the Philippine government’s support of the US fight against terrorism.

US military troops are in the midst of joint military operation in Mindanao, targetting the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group.

The presence of US troops in Mindanao has already provided much needed economic activity in the region, which traditionally has always felt left out from the rest of Luzon and Visayas.

The US-ASEAN Business Council has had a special working relationship with the Philippines.

Its last mission to the country was in February last year, but it has met with President Arroyo for several working meetings in Shanghai, China; Washington, D.C.; and New York.

The current mission will be in the country from April 21 to 25.

It will be led by Robert E. Driscoll, chairman of the US-Philippines Business Committee who is also the senior vice president of Edison Mission Energy, and Ernest Z. Bower, president of the US-ASEAN Business Council.

Philippine Ambassador Ramon del Rosario Jr. will join the US delegation. – Marianne Go