UNITED States (US) Ambassador Kristie Kenney inaugurated Friday a footbridge constructed through a partnership between the American government and City Government linking two villages in Zamboanga City.
Kenney's trip Friday was her last visit to Zamboanga City as the US envoy since she is scheduled to return soon to the US for another assignment following the appointment of her replacement.
The 27-meter concrete footbridge worth more than P1.7 million is the 27th United States Assistance for International Development (USAid)-funded Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program infrastructure project in the city.
It was constructed to benefit more than 40,000 residents in the villages of Guiwan and Tetuan, as well as neighboring areas.
The local government shouldered 25 percent of the project's worth as counterpart funds.
Kenney, who is an adopted daughter of Zamboanga City, said the concrete footbridge would be helpful to parents in sending their children to school and for farmers in bringing their products to the market aside from linking Tetuan and Guiwan villages.
The concrete footbridge crossing the Tetuan River has replaced the old wooden footbridge, which deteriorated and remained unsafe for people to cross in traveling between the two villages.
Kenney said the concrete footbridge is one of the over 900 USAid-supported Barangay Infrastructure Projects (BIPs) in Mindanao.
Kenney, prior to the footbridge inauguration, has also visited and commended the 25 out-of-school youth, who are undergoing an eight-week arc-welding training course in the village of Tulungatung, 17 kilometers west of the city.
The conduct of the training is a joint undertaking of the USAid-funded Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EquaLLS) and the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda).
In the afternoon, Kenney spearheaded the launching of the Job Enabling English Proficiency (Jeep) project at the Zamboanga State College of Marines Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST).
The Jeep is intended to improve the employability of graduates of Mindanao colleges and univesities by expanding and enhancing the English language training capabilities of the participating colleges.
The objective is to allow all colleges and universities participating in the Jeep Project to turn out graduates with English language skills needed for productive employment in careers that require proficiency in the language.
Kenney noted that "many jobs, such as those in the business process outsourcing and in the tourism, nursing and maritime sectors, require a high degree in the English language."
So far, 13 Mindanao colleges and universities have already participated in the Jeep project. These include the seven learning institutions that are participating in the said project launched Friday by Ambassador Kenney at ZSCMST in Zamboanga City.
Kenney also visited and thanked the US troops at Camp Basilio Navarro. She also thanked them for the good jobs they have done in the city and in nearby provinces.
The US troops have been implementing humanitarian projects and providing training to Filipino troops to boost the government's anti-terror campaign.