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Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney traveled to Cotabato City on July 9-10, where she gave the keynote address at the Women’s Forum on Poverty Reduction, a gathering of Mindanao’s female leaders to address issues of poverty, environmental degradation, and conflict.

Pictured above is Ambassador Kenney (center) with the Forum’s organizing committee, including Bai Sandra S. Basar, Council for Women Business Owners and Entrepreneurs and Bai Sandra A. Sema, UNESCO Commissioner and First Lady of Cotabato City.

The Women’s Forum on Poverty Reduction was attended by hundreds of female leaders from business, government, civil society, and the academe who are interested in developing an action plan to support poverty reduction in their communities.  At the Forum, the Ambassador also toured a showcase of goods from female-owned businesses in Central Mindanao.

“Women have great talents, and it is our responsibility to use those talents to make a difference,” said Ambassador Kenney during her remarks.  “Women make up 50 percent of the civil service (in the Philippines).  There are female presidents, heads of NGOs, and female leadership in the media and businesss.  These success stories happen because so many women are willing to work together and not worry about religion, sex, and other differences.”

Ambassador Kenney pointed out several sectors where the U.S. Government has partnerships to specifically assist women and children, such as healthcare, education, and small business growth.  “Women entrepreneurs lead the way,” she said.  “The creativity and innovation shown by women here is extraordinary.  Women entrepreneurs sometimes merely need a little help to get going.”  The Ambassador cited the Cotabato City Chamber of Commerce for reaching out to young women professionals and to local banks involved in microfinance that are giving small startup loans for female-owned businesses. And she also noted an area where female leaders might play a bigger role:  “Women have a special affinity for living in peace and they can play an extraordinary role in the next peace agreement,” said Ambassador Kenney.

The American people have many ongoing programs and partnerships in the Cotabato area, ranging from environmental support to livelihood development.  The Ambassador toured many of these project sites to learn more about these successful partnerships. 

At a regional summit on environmental governance for Islamic leaders, Ambassador Kenney, Mayor Muslimin Sema, and Secretary Kabuntalan P. Emblawa of the DENR-ARMM launched a source book called “Al Khalifa” that guides Muslim communities on how to improve management of forests, coasts, and solid and liquid wastes.  The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) worked with local Islamic leaders and scholars to write the book. 

In the city’s Barangay Kalanganan 2, Ambassador Kenney turned over a boat landing built by the U.S. Government at the request of local officials so farmers, fishermen, and traders can have a more efficient and safer water transport system.  The American people through USAID have built almost 900 roads, bridges, drainage ditches, ports, and other infrastructure buildings in Mindanao. 

Ambassador Kenney also joined Mayor Sema and Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, Chairman, MedCo, to inaugurate the Cotabato City Square.  USAID worked with the local government to build this new central market and business area, which will be a place for thousands of residents to shop, do business, and get medical care. 

On behalf of Project Handclasp, a San Diego-based charity, Ambassador Kenney and Commodore Bruce Stewart of the USS Peleliu’s Pacific Partnership mission donated to the Mindanao Emergency Response Network 15 pallets of goods for distribution to needy communities.  The goods being donated to Philippine families include medical supplies, toys and children’s items, and hygiene supplies.

The USS Peleliu, a U.S. Navy ship, has been in the Philippines for the last month on a goodwill mission to provide free health clinics for citizens; build and improve housing, schools, and emergency shelters; and deliver donated goods such as clothes, toys, food, and medical supplies.