12/15/2009 | 12:11 AM
ZAMBOANGA CITY – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday inaugurated the airport runway in the southern Philippine province of Sulu.
US Ambassador Kristie Kenney joined President Arroyo and Sulu Governor Sakur Tan in the inauguration of the P251-million Jolo airport improvement project.
The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) granted most of the funding, with Manila pouring in some P90 million for the development of the domestic airport.
Tan said the project, which started in October last year, involved the extension of the runway from 1,200 meters to 1,845 meters and its widening from 18 meters to 30 meters.
“We appreciate the support of the US government and we would like to thank the American people for supporting peace and development efforts in Sulu. The appreciation also goes to President Gloria Arroyo and Ambassador Kristie Kenney who made this project possible," he said.
Tan said the airport can now accommodate large aircraft such as A-320s and B-373s, a development expected to improve trade between Sulu and the rest of Mindanao. “We hope to attract investors with out new Jolo airport," he said.
He said they also handed over the upgraded water system to the Jolo Mainland Water District. The project, carried out in partnership between the US government, the Jolo Mainland Water District (JMWD) and the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), is worth P73.1 million.
- KBK, GMANews.TV
US Ambassador Kristie Kenney joined President Arroyo and Sulu Governor Sakur Tan in the inauguration of the P251-million Jolo airport improvement project.
The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) granted most of the funding, with Manila pouring in some P90 million for the development of the domestic airport.
Tan said the project, which started in October last year, involved the extension of the runway from 1,200 meters to 1,845 meters and its widening from 18 meters to 30 meters.
“We appreciate the support of the US government and we would like to thank the American people for supporting peace and development efforts in Sulu. The appreciation also goes to President Gloria Arroyo and Ambassador Kristie Kenney who made this project possible," he said.
Tan said the airport can now accommodate large aircraft such as A-320s and B-373s, a development expected to improve trade between Sulu and the rest of Mindanao. “We hope to attract investors with out new Jolo airport," he said.
He said they also handed over the upgraded water system to the Jolo Mainland Water District. The project, carried out in partnership between the US government, the Jolo Mainland Water District (JMWD) and the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), is worth P73.1 million.
- KBK, GMANews.TV
