Friday, October 15, 2004 (Philippines)

Children of Pangapuyan Island wait to greet US Ambassador Richard Ricciardone and USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios. BRECDA Chairman Al Jailani (left) acts as tour guide for Ricciardone. The US officials arrived at Pangapuyan Island Thursday. (Sun.Star Zamboanga photo) THE United States government, through Ambassador Richard Ricciardone and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), presented renewable energy systems during a turnover ceremony Thursday. The renewable energy systems were completed under the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program to the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) and to the beneficiaries of a community in a small island of Zamboanga City. [full story]