VZCZCXRO0051
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #3154/01 2610712
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 180712Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8297
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//FPA//

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 003154 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP 
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL SENV SOCI RP
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR VISITS ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH PROJECTS IN BOHOL 
 
 
¶1.  Summary.  Ambassador traveled to the island province of Bohol on 
September 6 to highlight U.S.-supported development projects that 
improve children's health and protect natural resources.  Ambassador 
met with the governor, a local congressman and several mayors. The 
visit highlighted improvements in the region's healthcare and the 
protection of natural resources that were made possible through U.S. 
partnerships with local government and non-governmental 
organizations.  End Summary. 
 
Bohol 
------ 
 
¶2.  Bohol is the 10th largest island in the country, located in the 
central Philippines approximately 50 miles southeast of Cebu City. 
Bohol's capital is Tagbilaran City.  A narrow strait separates the 
island of Cebu and Bohol and both share a common language, but the 
people of Bohol (Boholanos) retain a conscious distinction from 
their compatriots in Cebu.  A number of Bohol tourism destinations 
are famous throughout the Philippines and the region including: the 
1,268 uniquely dome-shaped mountains known as the Chocolate Hills; 
Spanish-built churches that date back to the 16th century; and the 
reclusive Philippine tarsier, the world's smallest monkey.  Bohol's 
primary exported commodity is limestone. Other major exports include 
rice, bananas, mangoes, cattle and hogs, fish and native products. 
 
Protection of Bohol's Natural Wonders 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  Ambassador visited the Tarsier Conservation Center in the 
municipality of Corella to observe community-based efforts to 
protect the habitat of the tarsier, one of the world's smallest 
primates, an endangered species, and a Bohol tourism icon.  Support 
for the Center's tarsier habitat preservation program is provided by 
the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, an entity 
created to manage a debt-relief program under the U.S. Tropical 
Forest Conservation Act.  The foundation funds 31 projects in the 
Philippines and gave this tarsier center $29,000 for operations. 
The Center's staff showcased information displays and an orientation 
video before leading the Ambassador on a short hike through a 
preserve where several tarsiers of various ages were observed in 
their natural habitat. 
 
¶4.  Near Carmen a professional tour guide from the Governor's office 
led the Ambassador to a scenic overlook and explained the geology of 
the unique and distinctively dome-shaped Chocolate Hills.  Following 
the tour, the Ambassador and Mayor discussed the impact of tourism 
on Carmen and ways to best preserve the area's natural beauty for 
future generations.  The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) 
-Philippines President and USAID/Philippines environment staff 
provided their insight on best practices. 
 
¶5.  Information materials that were developed with USAID assistance 
were turned over to a representative of the Bilar community during a 
visit to the Bohol Biodiversity Research Center and Tree Nursery. 
Following the ceremony, the Center's manager, a former Peace Corps 
Volunteer, provided an overview of the Center's waste management and 
recycling efforts and led the Ambassador on a tour of the tree 
nursery that comprises species native to Bohol.  The Center's staff 
assisted the Ambassador and her travel companions in planting 
individual trees to mark the visit. 
 
Governor and Peace Corps Volunteers on the River 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶6.  The Governor hosted the Ambassador for lunch at another popular 
Bohol tourist destination: the Loboc River.  The Governor and 
Ambassador were joined by Congressman Edgar Chatto and four Peace 
Corps Volunteers assigned to Bohol.  The setting, a boat ride on the 
Loboc River, provided an excellent opportunity to discuss 
environmentally-responsible tourism in Bohol with the Governor, 
while the Peace Corps Volunteers shared their experiences supporting 
improved coastal resource management and education projects. 
Ambassador praised Bohol's stunning natural beauty and the proactive 
steps taken by the Governor, Congressman and other public and 
private sector leaders to preserve Bohol's natural resources. 
 
USAID Health and Environment Ceremonies 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  At the capital city of Tagbilaran the Ambassador attended a 
USAID ceremony to initiate the first province-wide Childhood 
Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program in the Philippines.  The 
Ambassador also launched the "Going Green" toolkit for the local 
tourism operators, developed by WWF-Philippines and USAID.  The 
events highlighted the impact of U.S. assistance to the public and 
private sectors that contributes to the preservation of the natural 
environment and the improvement of children's health.  Ambassador 
offered praise for the initiative and commitment of local 
stakeholders to protect precious natural and human resources.  She 
 
MANILA 00003154  002 OF 002 
 
 
also expressed deep appreciation for the partnership that exists 
between Boholanos and the American people, as exemplified through 
the projects supported by USAID and Peace Corps in Bohol. 
 
¶8.  Ambassador also inaugurated a privately-operated midwife clinic, 
the third such clinic established in Bohol through a partnership 
between USAID and the Integrated Midwives Association of the 
Philippines-Bohol (IMAP-Bohol).  IMAP-Bohol seeks to improve the 
quality of and expand access to maternal and child health services 
in the private sector.  Ambassador toured the new facility and then 
joined a buntis (pregnancy) party for approximately two dozen local 
women.  Ambassador read questions from the clinic's trivia cards 
designed to provide accurate maternal and child health information 
to expectant mothers. 
 
Outreach through Media 
---------------------- 
 
¶9.  Ambassador gave a live radio interview at the DYRD-AM radio 
station in Tagbilaran, which was the first time an American 
Ambassador had ever visited the station.  The station's programming 
is mostly in the local dialect (Visayan) though most listeners also 
understand English.  Ambassador highlighted the natural beauty of 
Bohol and U.S.-supported efforts to help harness the province's 
tourism potential while protecting the environment.  She also 
praised the provincial and city governments for their commitment to 
children's health through support for the USAID-funded TB Childhood 
Control Program and private-sector midwife clinics.  Local print 
media was extremely positive and captured the Boholanos deep sense 
of appreciation for ongoing U.S. assistance to improve children's 
health and preserve the natural environment. 
 
KENNEY