⌛ U.S. Navy in Dumaguete

Accarding to the online newspaper.
He said that at least 30 US Navy officers will be fetched from Dumaguete City to Bais using the newly acquired government bus and will proceed to the housing site for the voluntary work.

The mayor said he had allotted six hectares of land in Barangay La Paz for the project to house the underprivileged sectors of the city.

Mayor Villanueva was grateful to the Gawad Kalinga Housing Program for its untiring support for the government’s housing program.

Gawad Kalinga is the housing project program of the Roman Catholic Church-allied religious group Couples spearheaded by Tony Meloto.

The housing project, one of the priority concerns of Bais government, had already constructed 17 houses and constructing more for the initial 58 housing beneficiaries, said Villanueva.

He further said that the effort of the US Navy officers is one of their campaigns of assisting the Philippine government whenever they come to the country.

Sources revealed that some of the US Navy volunteers have been in Dumaguete City or in the whole province for medical missions, books donation, and recently, helping build houses.

For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos.

 

I read this too..and other local news paper(visayan daily star).
Medical missions we know all, always the front runner.For me , i love to see the finish job.Not that only the skeleton.We will check mr. earml we he come back.

Have supper yet ?

 

why, are you cooking? :D

 

nah....i will invite you to the town feista!... Lechon and cases of sm... hehehe

 

I don't think anyone here was bashing the enlisted men or officers. Their behaivior in town, from what I understand was typical of 18 - 22 year old boys, and boys will be boys. Now as to the "official" mission onshore, Great public relations for the Navy, the U.S., and maybe in 3-4 days they really acomplished something, but more likely a token appearance putting the U.S. military in a good light . god knows the U.S. needs to improve it's image arround the world, so have a go.

The other mission of the ship is the one in question, and I don't think from what I have heard that a cruise missle destroyer, with high tech surveilance and sonar capabilities is strictly on a good will mission. That is not to say what ever it is that they are doing is bad, or someway evil, but merely a topic of curiousity.

My somewhat cynical take on it arises out of the mystery that this military ship is somehow helping a foreign government, possibly two, explore for oil?
The other support ships were there at the harbor, and what I explained in a previous post about their role was explained by the sailors to the some local expats.

The rest is unknown. Now if you really want to get synical, the oil thing could be a cover for something entirely different.

The U.S. supports areas of the world because of their strategic importance to U.S. interests, both political and military, and socially "call it good will" . One would be naive to think otherwise. This was probably a Thanksgiving shore leave with a little local good will thrown in. Cetainly not a bad idea.


By the way in the weekly local paper a one page add from Lotiff constuction advertised low income subsidised housing in Bais? wondering if that ties into the same project or Bais has several low income housing projets going. Private and public. Earl better get goin

 

Yep. I know from my JV Partner that he indeed has been contacted about that project. RHB, hope to be able to inform you later.
See you tomorrow at the jam at Devlin.

 

It's just coincidenes of US navy arrival ?

November 12, 2007

IN TANON STRAIT
Oil drilling set to start
BY ALEX PAL
Environmentalists are keeping a tight watch on the Department of Energy's oil exploration drilling in Tañon Strait , which is scheduled to start this week.

The drilling will take place on board a floating oil rig which was towed to the site, some three kilometers off the coast of the municipalities of Aloguinsan and Pinamungahan in Cebu .

These areas are directly across the towns of La Libertad and Jimalalud in Negros Oriental. But the fear of scientists is the possible harm that the noise of underwater blasting would have on the sea creatures.

Two weeks ago, some 170 marine scientists who had met in Iloilo had

passed a resolution opposing any oil exploration activity in the Ta ñ on strait, citing its unique biodiversity as a protected seascape.

Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes held a forum with environmentalists,

stakeholders and their contractor, the Japan Petroleum Exploration Company, Ltd., at the University of San Carlos , Cebu City last Wednesday.

Silliman University President Dr. Ben Malayang III accompanied a battery of scientists, legal experts and theologians to the dialog.

Reyes said that the exploratory drilling for oil in the Tanon strait will start on Thursday. He said this date was set some two or three years ago. “This is something that you don't decide on overnight,” he said, as he allayed fears that the welfare of the fishermen and the environment would be ignored.

Sensing that there was nothing anyone could do to stop the exploratory drillings pending exhaustive environmental studies, Malayang offered the expertise of scientists from Silliman University to monitor the water quality and behavior of cetaceans, or marine mammals, while the drilling will continue for two months.

Aside from the formation of a multi-partite monitoring team, lawyer Mikhail Lee Maxino, director of the Salonga Center for Law and Development based in Silliman University , had also demanded that the Japex set up an Environmental Guarantee Fund which could be used to immediately address possible problems that may arise from the operation.

Reyes, however, clarified that this activity that will be carried out by the Japex for a two-month period is only limited to oil exploration. “This is not commercial drilling yet. In the event that oil is found in Ta ñ on strait and its quantity is sufficient and declared mineable, it would need a full-blown environmental study and a law from Congress.

Malayang also pointed out the need to put a value on the present resources found in Ta ñ on strait, which may be very vital in determining whether actual commercial oil drilling will be feasible.

“We might be jeopardizing the vital resource for an unknown commodity,” he said.*AP


RHB...,here for you to analize, and see, by this news , coincide of the arrival of the US ship. Your thories maybe somehow have its worth.

 

I am tired of anti American rhetoric RHB! You have No clue on how many BILLIONS of dollars we spend on how to improve the world! Keep your sinical and depressive and negative thoughts to yourself!
I have been on many missions of good will across the world, and I don't know what U R talking about us improving our image! I am TIRED of folks bashing America for what she does!
We are a fine country that gives alot. Where are you from?
What country?
We do good things around the world and help aid disease ridden countries as well as hungry countries and have MANY aid missions....Have You forgotten all the good we do inthe world?
I will NOt put up with this Bush bashing or America bashing, we are one of the most generous countries in the world, and we help EVERYBODY!!
Texas!
So rethink what U have said my friend..

 

to be proud is positive

Dear Texas, RHB has given his own opinion like you have done as well.
I agree fully that the USA has done a real terrific job at many places in the world. I'm still so greatfull for the fact that they helped us to liberate us from the nazies (I'm from Holland).
Without them I don't dare to imagine how our lives in Europe should be now.
But its more the PERCEPTION of many people in the world that counts regarding the acts of the USA in recent decenia.
And you will surely know (it's not for the sake of nothing that they make a lot of good-will trips) that in many countries over the world (yes, and also in many of the liberated European countries) there is quite some sceptical attitude. You can't deny that and you also can't get that erased with only words and counter arguments.
The normal way is to be 1) well aware of it 2) try to find the reasons and 3) get improvements (in case you really want to change that perception).
You already told here your own contributions in some of those actions.
I personally love to be in the States (nice and very friendly people) but it's acc. to me the attitude of politicians/gouvernements (whatever their wing) which causes the damage to the image.
It's a very comon believe that oil/money/own interest is the driving factor behind many actions worldwide. And sure....many are 100% unselfish !!!
I don't believe that other countries have better politicians, but when you're the mightiest country in the world you are looked at with more than normal eyes by the rest of the world.
That's simply a human character, if you like it or not.
I hope you don't misunderstand me here: I'm not at all against that great country of yours, but found it needed to give the picture of my view.
But it's good to hear that you defend your country so solid.
It should be a bad sign if the own citizens don't react at all.
Love Texas and Arizona. Beautifull and friendly.

 

US navy joins Bangladesh cyclone relief effort - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Must be after the oil.....probably have drill rigs hidden under the hulls....