US envoy to witness Dinagyang Festival

UNITED States Ambassador the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. vowed to witness the Dinagyang Festival 2012 in Iloilo City and enjoy the premier tourism event in the Philippines with the Ilonggos.

Thomas, during a dinner hosted by the City Government, said Iloilo is full of festivities that attract tourists year round.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has invited Thomas to see the city’s biggest tourist attraction in January next year.

Thomas also announced continued support to the Aquino administration in its fight against corruption and poverty through the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) with mission director Gloria Steele, who joined him in his first visit to Iloilo on June 9 to 10, 2011.

The US envoy said the Philippines and his country are partners and his government is aligned with the programs of President Benigno Aquino III.

Thomas lauded the Philippines for the entry of the $434 million or about P20 billion compact projects granted by a US-run aid agency that aims to reduce poverty in the country through economic growth.

The Philippine government and its implementing entity, Millennium Challenge Account Philippines (MCA), announced the entry into force of the $434 million grant last week.

Thomas lauded the Government of the Philippines, Department of Finance, MCA-Philippines, and “our very own MCC for their tremendous work to successfully and rapidly launch the MCC compact program with clear country ownership and results.”

The MCC compact bankrolls three major projects in the country such as $54.3 million for redesign and computerization of key business processes within the Department of Finance and Bureau of Internal Revenue to increase the efficiency, sustainability and integrity of revenue collection that also includes Iloilo City; $120 million for the expansion of Kalahi-CIDSS, a community-based rural development program spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that focuses on small-scale infrastructure and related services to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty in the countryside especially in the province of Iloilo; and $214.4 million for the construction and rehabilitation of the 220-kilometer Samar Road that passes through 15 municipalities in Samar Island.

Posted in: Dinagyang Updates,Iloilo City