VZCZCXRO6596
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #0691/01 0770856
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 170856Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0179
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000691 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EAP/MTS 
PASS TO PEACE CORPS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MOPS PINS PTER RP
SUBJECT: DCM'S VISIT TO STRATEGIC PALAWAN PROFILES RANGE OF 
U.S. ASSISTANCE 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  The DCM's March 3-4 visit to Palawan, a 
island province stretching to Malaysia, showcased a wide 
range of U.S. activities, including construction of a new 
schoolhouse by U.S. and Philippine militaries on a remote 
island prone to terrorist recruitment; Peace Corps 
engagement; USAID environmental programs; and a new 
initiative to dramatically improve the capability of 
Philippine maritime police.  Local elected officials, the 
Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Armed Forces 
all welcomed growing U.S. assistance in this strategic 
province.  During media interviews that received wide 
regional coverage, the DCM reinforced the U.S. commitment to 
help communities throughout the Philippines achieve better 
governance, public security, and prosperity.  END SUMMARY. 
 
PALAWAN:  THE PHILIPPINES' LAST FRONTIER 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Palawan is the Philippines' largest province in 
land area and has a population of approximately 800,000. 
With its pristine waters and lush forests, Palawan has been 
called the Philippines' "last frontier" and is renowned for 
its physical beauty.  International organizations have 
recognized its environmental significance, designating two 
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the province.  With a young 
and fast growing population, large mineral reserves, and a 
growing tourism sector, balancing economic growth with 
environmental protection is a priority for its political 
leadership and residents. 
 
LOCAL LEADERSHIP LAUDS BALABAC BALIKATAN PROJECT 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶3. (SBU)  On March 3, the DCM made a trip to the island of 
Balabac at the southern tip of Palawan Province to inaugurate 
a school building constructed during the annual Balikatan 
joint U.S.-Philippine military exercise, which took place 
February 14 to March 3.  Balabac is home to a population of 
35,000 and is one of the most remote areas of the 
Philippines, with no airport, bridges, or regular ferry 
service connecting the island to the rest of Palawan.  The 
majority of the residents are Muslim, many of whom have fled 
fighting in other parts of the southern Philippines over the 
years.  Balabac's economy is based on trade with neighboring 
Malaysia and the nearby Balabac Strait is a key waterway for 
smugglers and illegal trafficking of all types, as well as 
significant legitimate shipping.  Its strategic location was 
what made the Philippine government select Balabac as the 
site for a radar station under the Coast Watch South network, 
designed to boost maritime security in the southern 
Philippines.  The U.S. is assisting in this initiative with 
funding for radar stations and other assets.  Balikatan 
planners recognized the strategic value of conducting 
humanitarian operations in this isolated location and used 
the unique amphibious capabilities of the U.S. 31st Marine 
Expeditionary Unit to deliver supplies and personnel to the 
island via air cushion landing craft and helicopter. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  The Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit 
and the sailors of the USS HARPERS FERRY worked closely with 
their Philippine counterparts and the local political 
leadership to provide medical services to over 2,500 Balabac 
residents and build a new building for the high school.  The 
admiral in charge of the Philippine Western Command in Puerto 
Princesa, along with 31st MEU Commander Colonel John Mayer, 
attended the inauguration of the new schoolhouse, during 
which the DCM and the Balabac mayor spoke to over 300 
children and residents.  The DCM emphasized the importance of 
the U.S.-Philippine partnership, noting that medical outreach 
and the school construction project were a "visible reminder 
of what our militaries can do when they work together."  The 
Balabac mayor was effusive in his praise for U.S. troops, 
marveling at how they worked through days of constant rain 
and into the evening hours to finish the project in just six 
days.  The mayor gave a moving speech, during which he asked 
for blessings on the American people, hoped that this would 
not be the last time they would see U.S. troops, and looked 
forward to a strong relationship with the United States in 
the future.  After the ceremony concluded, the commander of 
the HARPERS FERRY invited the DCM and the mayor aboard for a 
tour.  Addressing the entire crew of the ship, the mayor 
again thanked them for their hard work and assistance, 
praising their professionalism. 
 
 
MANILA 00000691  002 OF 002 
 
 
ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL AND POLICE CONCERNS 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  The DCM returned to Puerto Princesa, the capital 
of Palawan, for a series of meetings focusing on non-military 
assistance that included U.S. Peace Corps volunteers, 
environmental activists working with USAID, and funding for a 
new Philippine Maritime Police Unit to be based in Puerto 
Princesa.  Peace Corps volunteers are active in northern 
Palawan and the Puerto Princesa area, helping local 
communities with education (English and information 
technology), stewardship of natural resources, and youth 
programs.  USAID is funding programs that train marine park 
rangers in the Tubbataha Reef area, one of the UNESCO sites, 
and has several other environmental projects that are helping 
government promote effective conservation programs.  One of 
the goals of these programs is to help Philippine authorities 
address a key concern of environmental activists -- 
exploitation of Palawan's fishing grounds by foreign 
commercial vessels that bribe poorly paid officials to ignore 
catches outside the legal limit. 
 
U.S. BOLSTERING MARITIME SECURITY 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  To strengthen the Philippine maritime security 
capability, a U.S. interagency project will help establish a 
Philippine Maritime Police Unit in Puerto Princesa.  The 
program will provide five or six high-speed patrol boats, 
train and equip 100 Maritime Police personnel, and build a 
headquarters building for the unit in Puerto Princesa. 
Philippine officials have begun basic training of police 
personnel, a U.S. adviser is arriving in March, and 
construction of the headquarters building by JIATF-West is 
expected to commence this summer.  The Puerto Princesa mayor 
as well as leaders of the Philippine Provincial and Regional 
Police and Philippine Armed Forces Western Command (WESCOM), 
voiced their strong support for the program.  While 
describing a productive working relationship between military 
and police, WESCOM commander Admiral Borromeo welcomed the 
establishment of an effective Maritime Police Unit, which he 
said would help relieve his command of law enforcement 
duties. 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  In his meeting with the DCM, Puerto Princesa Mayor 
Edward Hagedorn talked proudly of the city's low crime rate 
and stressed the importance of security in building Palawan's 
tourism industry.  He cited the location of the Maritime 
Police Unit headquarters as one of the reasons the city had 
been anxious to get the project underway -- the unit will be 
located at the pier from which tourists embark for many of 
Palawan's resorts, a fact the mayor said could only help 
boost the confidence of travelers coming to Palawan for a 
safe vacation.  Hagedorn committed to personally overseeing 
the reclamation of land donated by the city for the site 
headquarters and assured the DCM the project would stay on 
schedule. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU)  USG engagement is steadily increasing in Palawan 
through a broad range of projects, and the warm reception the 
DCM received during his trip showed that the people and 
leadership of the province are comfortable with our growing 
interaction.  Straddling strategic sea lanes and encompassing 
part of the disputed Spratly Islands, Palawan province 
presents an opportunity for integrated U.S. assistance, where 
we can give equal value to security, promoting U.S. values in 
a diverse population (including Muslim communities who have 
frequent contact with Malaysia), protecting the environment, 
and developing sustainable economic options.  As we move 
forward with planning for future assistance, we will study 
how to build on our positive experiences and how we can 
utilize the specialized abilities of units such as the 31st 
Marine Expeditionary Unit during military exercises to reach 
remote and underserved populations with humanitarian projects. 
JONES