Basilan peaceful, declares US envoy

SUMISIP, Basilan — It took newly designated US Ambassador Kristie Kenney to fly to a remote village here to find this former stronghold of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf a peaceful place to live in.

As such, in her first official out-of-town trip, Kenney said she would look into the travel advisory warning Americans against traveling to southern Philippines during a meeting with Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat.

Although the travel advisory is still in effect, Kenney said she would review it carefully.

"It is also one reason I need to get out to see the country and to hear from you," she told reporters after signing a memorandum of understanding with Lobregat at the Zamboanga City Hall.

Secretary Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, said Kenney’s presence is the most eloquent indication that the southern Philippines is a safe place to travel.

"Travel advisories are taken as advises and they can be taken or rejected," he said.

"There’s water… beaches, this should be a fabulous place for people to live in," said Kenney as villagers and officials of Barangay Cabcaban here warmly welcomed her.

Kenney said she is looking forward to what the US government can do next to sustain the gains which Basilan has achieved following the successful Balikatan 02-1 joint military exercise held four years ago.

"I am looking forward to working with everybody here to see how we can transform a lot of projects now in Basilan," she said.

Kenney lauded the projects which the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has been carrying out through the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) program as well as those of other foreign donors.

"Basilan before is totally different from Basilan today," said Dureza, concurrent chairman of the Mindanao Economic Affairs Council (MedCo).

Kenney, who led the inauguration of the P20-million Cabcaban Bridge, urged local leaders to sustain the stability of their community.

She said the US government would continue to pour in needed assistance for social and infrastructure programs.

Brig. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, chief of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, said the projects have had a big impact on security since villagers are no longer vulnerable to recruitment by the Abu Sayyaf.