VZCZCXRO1514
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHML #1353 1570036
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 050036Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0908
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS MANILA 001353 
 
SENSITIVE 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS 
STATE FOR OES 
STATE PASS USAID 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O.  12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL PTER RP
SUBJECT:  Ambassador Kicks Off Pacific Partnership Philippines 2008 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  On May 30, 2008, Ambassador Kenney kicked off the 
two-week visit of the USNS MERCY to the Philippines, a Pacific 
Partnership 2008 initiative which brings together personnel from the 
U.S. military, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine 
government, partner militaries from other allies, and 
non-governmental organizations to provide medical, dental, 
veterinary and engineering assistance to citizens of the 
Philippines.  Mercy and Philippine military bands played at the 
opening ceremony near Cotabato City, in the southern Philippines. 
The Ambassador was joined by the U.S. and Philippine co-commanders 
from the MERCY and the Philippine Executive Director of the 
Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement. Also in 
attendance were the Cotabato City Mayor, Congresswoman Mendoza of 
North Cotabato, regional Philippine military and police generals, 
members of the International Monitoring Team, NGO representatives, 
local politicians and academics.  Following the conclusion of the 
official ceremony, all guests received tours on board the ship and 
were impressed with the many Filipino-American sailors and medical 
professionals they met along the way. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  The Partnership brings together military and medical personnel, 
health care agencies, and non-governmental organizations to deliver 
humanitarian and civic assistance.  The Embassy has been working 
seamlessly with Mercy personnel for the past eight months to plan a 
superb, interagency and intergovernmental deployment.  The USNS 
MERCY will serve as the command post and medical service facility 
for more than 1200 partner nation personnel, linked to a robust 
interagency team at Embassy Manila.  One of two specially-designed 
vessels in the U.S. Navy equipped to provide a variety of medical 
services such as surgery, burn care, preventative medicine, 
optometry screenings, dental treatment and veterinary care, the 
MERCY is staffed by an experienced cadre of medical professionals. 
The Mission's activities include medical and dental civic actions 
programs -- including surgeries onboard the MERCY, services and 
assistance in biomedical repair, preventive medicine, veterinary 
services, and engineering projects.  The 2008 Mission expects to 
provide services to tens of thousands of residents in Mindanao and 
Samar. 
 
¶3.  In her remarks to the assembled guests and media, Ambassador 
Kenney highlighted the longstanding friendship and cooperation 
between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines, and 
the important medical and other services that would be delivered to 
Filipinos in Central Mindanao and Samar by U.S., Philippine, 
Australian, Canadian, and Japanese military personnel.  She also 
took the opportunity to encourage all parties to support the ongoing 
peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro 
Islamic Liberation Front.  Representing the Philippine government, 
Visiting Forces Commission head Undersecretary Adan noted the 
mission exemplified the effort of developing, nurturing, and 
sustaining the partnership between the people of the U.S. and the 
people of the Philippines, and also the partnership between the 
armed forces of the two countries.  He enthusiastically welcomed the 
mission and noted that it gave substance to the relationship, and 
urged everyone to give the fullest cooperation to support the 
endeavor. 
 
¶4.  After the formal ceremony, the Amb