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JSOTF-P AFP and Philippine Government Partnership

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080527-30
Release Date: 5/27/2008 3:17:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Katherine Sanchez, Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines Public Affairs

JOLO, Republic of the Philippines (NNS) -- In a combined effort, Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P), Armed Forces Philippines (AFP) and Sulu government officials, opened a new community center to the citizens of Barangay Tugas, Patikul, a new school house in Barangay Tandu Patung, Maimbung and a newly constructed road for the Barangay, Indanan community, May 21.

Three small dedication ceremonies were held in the southern province of Sulu, marked the close of one community relations project and the opening of newly constructed buildings and a road to communities on the island of Jolo, in the southern Philippines.

Col. William Coultrup, JSOTF-P commander, explained the role played by U.S. forces was but a small piece of a large effort made by AFP and local government officials in bringing these projects to fruition.

"We are playing a very small part in all of this and that is to provide some of the resources and the supplies to build these great schools—it's a total team effort between the local government, with our fellow partners in the AFP and the U.S. Soldiers who are here working side-by-side with our counterparts," Coultrup said.

"Even though we are Soldiers, the majority of our effort is designed to help develop communities and give people a chance for a better life and a better existence," Coultrup added.

Community relations projects coordinated by JSOTF-P, AFP, the government of the Republic of the Philippines and volunteers are not a new concept in the southern Philippines. These types of projects along with Medical Civil Action Programs that deliver free medical and dental services to people living in remote areas and additional Engineering Civil Action Programs that assist the AFP and the government of the Republic of the Philippines in building roads, schools, community facilities and digging wells to provide clean water, have been ongoing since the U.S. military was invited here by the Philippine government in 2002.

Cultrup noted the new roads will help the people there.

"It allows the community to again connect with each other … It allows you to get to schools, to hospitals, to the mosques and for business to come in. You are setting the condition to have these roads and make life much better for the people out here, this is just the start, it is up to you, it's the people's turn—you need to take advantage of it and learn from this. Bring in the business, work with the local police, work with the AFP and make this environment safe so your children can grow up in a better atmosphere," Coultrup said.

The island of Sulu, once plagued with violence, has progressed by leaps through the shared vision of the government and citizens to have an island of peace and prosperity.

"In 2002 this place [southern Sulu] was considered very dangerous, now you look at it and people are coming to visit—people want tourism here. It's much safer now because of the efforts of not only the AFP, but also the local government pushing very hard for a better life for the people," Coultrup said.

Sulu Governor, Sakur Tan, also a featured speaker at the dedications, has been a leader in the transformation of this area and will continue to work with JSOTF-P and the AFP on future projects.

"From the provincial government to the municipal government, we are supportive of the Armed Forces Philippines and supportive of the U.S. forces in the province of Sulu—I am certain my optimism can not be wrong," Tan said.

"They [U.S. military] are here to bring peace, not chaos, not disorder—we should be very grateful. This is a very fortunate time to be a leader here in the province of Sulu because of the assistance, help and aid from the U.S. government—with this I'm certain we cannot fail," added Tan.

JSOTF-P personnel and the AFP, in conjunction with local government officials, routinely work side-by-side on community relations projects that help foster peace and stability.

For more news from U.S. Pacific Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/pacom/.>