MAYOR Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to her to be part of the project "Strong Cities, Strong Partnerships: A Comprehensive Approach to Preventing Terrorism in Southeast Asia" under the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the US State Department of State.
Salazar and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte were the only mayors in the country invited to the two-week study program along with the Task Force Davao Commander Consolito Yecla and Salazar's chief-of-staff Michael Angelo Saavedra.
During the program, Salazar and Duterte and other IVLP alumni were given the opportunity to learn and be exposed to the initiatives undertaken by the US government in maintaining security in the country.
Salazar, Duterte and the other participants visited various US government institutions that are working and making America safe, as well as met with several US mayors during the 88th Winter Meeting of the US Conference of Mayors in Washington D.C. where thematic discussions included public safety and policing, among others.
Salazar said that meetings with Strong Cities Network Mayors, such as Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti also took place.
They also visited Filipino expats at the Philippine Embassy headed by Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, as well as the Defense Attache and team, some members of which served in the City Government of Zamboanga.
Salazar said the program ended in Los Angeles, where the participants saw how law enforcement works at the local level and sent message of condolences for basketball legend Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna and others who perished in the helicopter crash. (SunStar Zamboanga)