VZCZCXRO8387
OO RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHML #0984 1270753
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 070753Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4048
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS MANILA 000984 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV PREL RP
SUBJECT: PIODURAN PEOPLE GRATEFUL FOR BALIKATAN ROAD PROJECT 
 
¶1.  The municipal council of Pioduran, Albay Province passed 
a resolution April 27 expressing gratitude and appreciation 
to the U.S. government for its assistance in the 
rehabilitation of a key road in their community as part of 
the recently concluded 2009 Balikatan military exercise.  A 
combined U.S.- Armed Forces of the Philippines military team 
built four culverts, raised the elevation of the road to 
alleviate washout areas, dug drainage ditches along the 
sides, and crowned the road to mitigate erosion.  This "farm 
to market" road connects two small rural communities and will 
facilitate the farmers' access to the local port.  The 
council passed the resolution in anticipation of the 
Ambassador's April 28 visit to Pioduran (septel) and 
subsequently delivered it to the Ambassador with the request 
that it be officially transmitted to President Obama.  The 
Pioduran road project is one of many such civil affairs 
projects during the annual Balikatan military exercises that 
benefited the people of the Philippines.  Post will report on 
Balikatan and other projects septel. 
 
¶2.  The council's resolution underscores the importance of 
continued bilateral U.S.- Philippine military exercises in 
bringing much needed aid and development to Philippine 
communities.  Such projects foster good will and promote a 
positive image of America at the grass roots level of 
society.  The approximately USD $103,000 spent on the 
Malidong - Buenavista road is an investment that will 
immediately help the more than 2,000 residents of this 
agricultural community and will pay dividends for years to 
come, both for the people of Pioduran and the United States. 
The complete text of the resolution follows below. 
 
¶3.  Begin text of resolution: 
 
RESOLUTION 09-29 
 
Resolution expressing gratitude and appreciation of the 
people of Pioduran, Albay to the U.S. Government thru the 
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Her Excellency Kristie A. 
Kenney for the conduct of CMO-INCAP (Civil Military Operation 
- Infrastructure Civic Action Project) of the RP-US Balikatan 
in the municipality. 
 
WHEREAS, the municipal officials and the people of Pioduran, 
Albay, Philippines are forever grateful to the government of 
the United States of America for rehabilitation of 3km 
Malidong-Buenavista farm to market road in Pioduran, Albay, 
Philippines; 
 
WHEREAS, the said project will benefit more or less 2,000 
inhabitants of the said area, mostly farmers, and lessen the 
cost of agricultural products in transporting to the market; 
 
WHEREFORE, RESOLVED, as it is hereby RESOLVED, to express as 
the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) and the people of 
Pioduran, Albay, Philippines hereby express their 
acknowledgment and lasting gratitude to the government of the 
United States of America, thru the U.S. Ambassador to the 
Philippines, Her Excellency Kristie A. Kenney for the conduct 
of CMO-INCAP of the RP-US Balikatan in the municipality. 
 
RESOLVED FURTHER, that this resolution be officially 
transmitted to His Excellency Barack H. Obama II, President 
of the United States of America thru the U.S. Ambassador to 
the Philippines, Her Excellency Kristie A. Kenney, Metro 
Manila, Philippines. 
 
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. 
I HEREBY CERTIFY to the correctness of the foregoing 
resolution. 
 
(Signatories) 
 
 
KENNEY