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O 180708Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6085
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002593 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL KPAO RP
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR'S GOODWILL VISIT TO BAGUIO CITY AND LA TRINIDAD 
MUNICIPALITY 
 
REF: MANILA 2448 (CLAN VIOLENCE) 
 
¶1. SUMMARY. In the wake of devastating mudslides in the Cordillera 
Administrative Region (CAR), the Ambassador travelled to Baguio City 
December 3 and 4 for a goodwill visit and to host the annual holiday 
reception.  On December 3, the Ambassador announced USG plans to 
provide an additional $10 million in food aid to the Philippines, 
highlighting the cooperation between USAID, the World Food Program 
(WFP) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in 
the relief operations in the CAR.  At the Philippine Military 
Academy (PMA) the Ambassador met with the Superintendent, Vice 
Admiral Calderon, and delivered a keynote address on leadership, 
peace, security, and military cooperation to the cadets.  In the 
evening the Ambassador hosted a holiday reception featuring 
businesspeople, university officials, PMA officers and cadets, 
journalists, government officials, WFP officials, Peace Corps 
volunteers and other guests from civil society.  On December 4, the 
Ambassador conveyed holiday greetings over the airwaves as a guest 
on a live radio talk show hosted by Bombo Radyo Philippines. The 
Ambassador concluded her trip with a visit o disaster-affected 
areas in La Trinidad Municiplity along with the Governor of Benguet 
Province  The Ambassador met with displaced residents andparticipated in the handover of relief goods provided with USG 
logistical support. END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------------- 
BAGUIO: PLANNED CITY IN THE MOUNTAINS 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  Located along the ridges of Cordillera Central, Baguio was 
designed by American urban planner and architect Daniel Burnham and 
marked its centennial as a chartered city this year.  Baguio City 
continues to grow and remains an important economic and educational 
hub for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).  Baguio City 
attracts a constant flow of travelers year-round because of its 
temperate climate and mountain scenery and is also an industrial 
base with high tech American firms such as Moog Controls and Texas 
Instruments operating in the Baguio City Economic Zone (BCEZ).  Home 
to the PMA and eight other major universities, Baguio City is also a 
driving force in higher education in the Philippines. 
¶3.  Baguio's status as a regional hub in a remote region makes it an 
opportune setting for the U.S. Mission to do outreach in a variety 
of forms.  Peace Corps volunteers contribute in the areas of 
education, youth development and environment protection.  There are 
American Corners in the Baguio City Public Library and St. Louis 
University.  USAID has supported several local health and 
environmental initiatives. The American Citizen Services Unit of the 
Consular Section makes quarterly visits to Baguio City to provide 
services to the significant number of American Citizens residing in 
the city and neighboring provinces. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
RELIEF OPERATIONS FOR VICTIMS OF TYPHOON PARMA ONGOING 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶4.  La Trinidad Municipality borders Baguio City and was hit hard by 
Typhoon Parma in October 2009.  Mudslides devastated entire 
settlements on the slopes of the foothills surrounding the town. 
The mountainous terrain poses a serious challenge to reconstruction 
efforts.  Destroyed roads, collapsed bridges, and widespread 
flooding have resulted in significant logistical constraints for the 
Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and humanitarian 
organizations.  In recognition of the collaborative efforts by the 
USG and local partners, the Ambassador visited a logistics center 
established through a grant from USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster 
Assistance (OFDA).  The center is jointly operated by the World Food 
Program (WFP), the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
(DSWD) and the National Disaster Coordinating Council.  The WFP 
received $1 million from OFDA to provide logistics support in the 
distribution of relief goods and much needed supplies to populations 
affected by Tropical Storm Ketsana and Typhoon Parma.  This has 
enabled the GRP and humanitarian agencies to provide assistance to 
more than 2 million people.  The center is stocked with relief goods 
donated by the GRP, foreign governments, international 
organizations, local foundations, the private sector and 
individuals.  The tour ended with an announcement by the Ambassador 
of $10 million in additional food aid as part of the USG assistance 
to disaster-affected communities in the Philippines. 
 
¶5.  Little Kibungan, a vegetable farming community, was hit by a 
landslide that killed 77 people (74 residents and 3 rescue workers) 
on October 8, 2009.  The landslide destroyed a large area of 
cultivable land and buried much of the community under five to six 
meters of mud.  The Ambassador viewed the devastation resulting from 
the landslide, met with displaced survivors, and participated in the 
handover of relief goods provided with USG-funded transportation and 
logistics.  She was joined by Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan, who 
gave a detailed account of the calamity, described the widespread 
damage throughout the province, and predicted that recovery efforts 
will take some time, as many remote communities in mountainous areas 
have been cut off.  The Ambassador spoke with the press, offering 
 
MANILA 00002593  002 OF 002 
 
 
her condolences to the families who lost loved ones and words of 
support for those displaced and now homeless.  The visit concluded 
with a stop at Strawberry Farm to visit displaced persons living in 
a tent city evacuation center.  The Ambassador greeted survivors and 
representatives from WFP and DSWD who carried out relief operations. 
 At the invitation of Mayor Artemio Galwan of La Trinidad, the 
Ambassador participated in a handover of rice and other foodstuffs 
provided with USG logistical support. 
 
------------------------------ 
PMA CADETS PREPARE FOR SERVICE 
------------------------------ 
 
¶6.  The PMA is the top training academy for future officers of the 
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).  The coed institution's 
curriculum is patterned after West Point's and offers specialized 
training to all three branches of the AFP.  The Ambassador met with 
the Superintendent, Vice Admiral Leonardo C. Calderon Jr., who 
condemned the recent massacre in Maguindanao (reftel) in the 
strongest terms. Discussing the upcoming 2010 Presidential 
elections, Calderon stated that it was imperative for the Commission 
on Elections (COMELEC) to function in a safe and transparent 
environment and the military establishment should remain neutral. 
He highlighted PMA's efforts to encourage the cadets to exercise 
their own right to vote.  Calderon added that applications for PMA 
were up this year and was optimistic that his recruitment strategy 
would continue to ensure a diverse cadet corps. 
 
¶7.  After her meeting with the Superintendent, the Ambassador 
addressed over 1,000 cadets.  The Ambassador discussed the USG focus 
on the "3-Ds" -- development, diplomacy and defense.  She 
highlighted President Obama's speech to the cadets of West Point on 
December 1 and underscored the USG commitment to peace and security 
in Afghanistan.  The Ambassador spoke about the importance of 
partnership with government, international organizations and civil 
society to foster peace and development in Afghanistan.  The 
Ambassador reiterated that the U.S. did not want bases in the 
Philippines and described the benefits of ongoing military 
cooperation.  She noted the contributions of the Republic of the 
Philippines to UN peacekeeping operations in conflict zones, praised 
the cadets as future leaders of the Philippines, and challenged them 
to contribute for the good of society. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
OUTREACH AT HOLIDAY RECEPTION AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶8.  The Ambassador addressed both national and local media during 
her stay in Baguio.  In a taped local television interview and 
nationally broadcast live radio interview, the Ambassador emphasized 
the close historical relationship between the United States and 
Baguio City.  She highlighted the USG commitment of $10 million in 
food aid, condemned the Maguindano massacre, and called for a 
thorough and transparent investigation.  On the upcoming 2010 
presidential elections, the Ambassador stated that journalists had 
an important role to play in disseminating information and 
facilitating communication in the public sphere. 
 
¶9.  The holiday reception brought together businesspeople, 
university officials, PMA officers and cadets, journalists, 
government officials, WFP officials, Peace Corps volunteers, local 
American citizens, and other guests from civil society. The event 
provided an opportunity for Embassy officers to build or further 
develop ties with a broad range of contacts from the area. The 
Consul General, Economic Counselor, JUSMAG representatives, and 
others from the Embassy also were in attendance. 
 
KENNEY