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Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Mayor, Aussie envoy tackle port security training
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Mayor Celso Lobregat and Australian Ambassador Tony Hely discussed on Monday the possibility of intensifying the training of port security personnel to ensure Zamboanga City's compliance with international standards.
Ambassador Hely along with his defense attaché Colonel Chris Burns paid a courtesy visit on Lobregat at City Hall in the course of his daylong trip to Zamboanga Monday.
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The Australian government will be giving technical assistance to Zamboanga City port and other ports in Mindanao to ensure that security and other port operations comply with international standards.
Hely told reporters that the Special Transport Office of the Australian Embassy will be assessing the capabilities of ports in Mindanao, including Zamboanga City, to determine what technical training may be provided to port personnel in areas of customs, immigration, quarantine and security operations (CIQS) in the ports.
"We want to help train port personnel in port operations in order for these ports to comply with international standards," he said.
He also said that his government was encouraged by the success of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the fight against terrorism, which, as of late, successfully neutralized top leaders of the Abu Sayyaf.
"We are encouraged by the success of Philippine troops in the fight against the Abu Sayyaf group," he said.
Lobregat said it is the plan of the Australian government to increase assistance to the Philippines and bulk of the package would go to Mindanao to include Zamboanga City, where one of the very important ports is located.
Australia is assisting the country in the aspects of port security, anti-terrorism as well as literacy programs. The same government has also assisted the Philippine Coast Guard as well as Philippine Navy in terms of equipment, one of which is a vessel that is commissioned to the coast guard here.
Lobregat said the port assistance in Zamboanga would be focused on the training of security personnel where Australian experts will conduct the exercise.
"The plan of the Australian government is to increase the assistance, and most of these will go to Mindanao," the mayor affirmed.
The courtesy call also tackled matters aimed to improve bilateral relations between Zamboanga and Australia, including the economic situation here.
Lobregat presented Ambassador Hely with a "barong" (native clothing), a native bolo, and a copy of the Chavacano dictionary and compilation of Chavacano songs as tokens of appreciation. The ambassador in return gifted Lobregat with genuine Australian coins.
Also present during the courtesy call were Vice Mayor Beng Climaco and Councilors Elias Enriquez, Juan Climaco Elago II, Abdurahman Nuno, Roel Natividad, Reynerio Candido and Rudy Lim.
From City Hall, Ambassador Hely proceeded to the local port to inspect the area where a floating school will be set up. The project is being undertaken in coordination with the Western Mindanao State University.
Earlier in the day, the envoy was briefed by Police Regional Director Jaime Caringal and Western Mindanao Command Chief Eugenio Cedo regarding the prevailing peace and order situation here.
The Australian Ambassador was also in Zamboanga City to visit the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU), which is a recipient of Australian Aid.
Australian Aid in collaboration with the WMSU is coming up with a floating school that will visit remote coastal barangays.
The floating school, he said, will provide training to out-of-school-youths and school children, including indigenous folks, Muslims and Subanens and help them acquire skills. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (January 30, 2007 issue)
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