Program Focus
PEACE, PROSPERITY, and PARTNERSHIP are the main thematic approaches of the U.S. Embassy in diplomatic engagement with the people of Mindanao and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines
PEACE – The U.S. Embassy promotes peace and understanding through numerous visits from the Ambassador, the International Visitors, Speakers programs, and strong law enforcement collaboration. The Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission travel throughout the Southern Philippines highlighting the U.S. government’s contributions to positive change. The International Visitors program brings dynamic Filipino leaders, students and youth to the United States for conferences, seminars and trainings. Many speakers from the United States, including American Muslims, share their experiences in America, emphasizing good governance, possibilities for change and development, and Muslim life in America.
Our strong law enforcement collaboration builds the capabilities to keep people safe. American law enforcement officers share, in seminars and classes, techniques such as bomb detection, port security, and preventing the trafficking of persons. We joined together to offer the Rewards for Justice, a program that pays brave citizens who come forward with information leading to the whereabouts of key international terrorists saving many lives.
PROSPERITY – The U.S. Agency for International Development, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and the Foreign Commercial Service all work together with the Philippine government, local governments, NGO’s and private partners to create projects so the people of Mindanao can unleash their economic potential.
USAID, along with their Filipino partners, builds roads, bridges, ports, wells and other infrastructure projects so that people can bring products to market. They run programs to provide solar power to villages and donate computers and internet access to schools across the region. USAID initiatives help local governments and organizations manage resources, improve access to health services, and offer vocational training opportunities.
The Foreign Agricultural Section focuses on increasing agricultural capacity. They have helped develop processes to transport perishable goods to market, increase the quality of dairy farming, expand the export capabilities of the fruit industry, and improve school nutrition throughout Mindanao. Many farmers take advantage of sustainable agriculture programs that increase production of high-value crops and develop product markets.
The Foreign Commercial Service has signed agreements with 16 Mindanao chambers of commerce, creating a framework for closer business ties with the United States. In 2007, they demonstrated the eagerness of U.S. businesses to invest in Mindanao through the “American Showcase and Catalog Show”, visiting two cities and generating hundreds of “leads” for American and Filipino businesses. During a seminar on “Doing business with the U.S.A," Embassy Officers featured topics such as: business visas, intellectual property protection, and linking up with U.S. suppliers.
PARTNERSHIP – The U.S. Embassy works with many wonderful partners in Mindanao including non-governmental organizations, local governments, the Philippine government, the private sector, and international organizations. One of our strongest partnerships is with the Armed Forces of the Philippines. While this partnership dates back to World War II, today, it has a whole new dimension. The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military work together through many humanitarian projects to build conditions for the people of Mindanao to live in peace.
Our militaries have partnered to enhance health care through medical missions both large and small. Some of the smallest medical missions are called “tailgate” medical missions where the two armed forces literally pull a van into an area, open the back and begin to administer to the needs of communities – both people and animals- that do not have access to hospitals or local medical care. Some of the medical missions are larger, such as those hosted on board the USS Peleliu in 2007 where Armed Forces medical personnel were joined by NGO medical personnel from both countries. The most memorable partnerships is that of the USNS Mercy. In 2006 and 2008, teams of Filipino, U.S., and other international doctors and nurses treated over 80,000 people, a majority from Mindanao.