Thursday, October 26, 2006 US ship delivers ambulances donated for Mindanao By Al Jacinto
A US Navy transport ship arrived Wednesday in the southern Philippine port city of Zamboanga, and unloaded five ambulances donated by an international foundation.
US and Filipino military officials said the donation came from Italian philanthropist, Armando de Rossi, of the 3P Foundation.
The ambulances, worth $20,000 each, came from the United States and were shipped to Subic Bay, a former US base outside Manila, and then transported to Zamboanga City by the USS Harpers Ferry, said US Air Force Major John Redfield, public affairs officer.
"The ambulances were donated by the 3P Foundation to the Filipino people and will be distributed to various recipients in Zamboanga, Jolo and Tawi-Tawi. The US military is very proud to be a part of this team effort to help the people of the Philippines."
"By working together, the 3P Foundation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and US Navy's Project Handclasp were able to present these five ambulances to organizations in Zamboanga, Jolo, and Tawi Tawi. It's possible that these ambulances could one day save lives, so this is a really rewarding and inspiring project to be a part of," Redfield said.
Project Handclasp is a special outreach program by the US Navy.
Philippine Army Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo said more ambulances are expected to arrive before the year ends. "Mr. De Rossi promised us that more ambulances are arriving that will benefit government hospitals," he said.
De Rossi said about a dozen more ambulances would be delivered to the southern Philippines and distributed to areas where the vehicles are needed.
"These ambulances are donation by people all over the world who cared about Mindanao and its people. We are concerned about the people, about the peace and development efforts in the Philippines and we will continue to help the Filipino people," he said.
The 3P (Promotion of Peace and Prosperity in the Philippines) Foundation purchased 14 Ford F350 ambulances to donate to places throughout the Philippines in an effort to bring better medical supplies and capabilities to local provinces.
Five of them will be donated to the Zamboanga City Fire Department; the Jolo Rescue Network; the Camp Asturias Hospital on Jolo; the Jolo Red Cross; and a clinic on Tawi Tawi.
De Rossi said that once the ambulances are delivered to their final destinations, they will save plenty of lives. "We're just here to promote the goodwill of America to the Filipino people, and to show the Filipinos that the United States cares," he said.
De Rossi is actively involved in humanitarian activities in Jolo and had donated tens of millions of dollars in infrastructure and medical equipment on the island.
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