• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson sees the continued assistance of the US government to the Philippines under the administration of President Donald Trump.
Carlson, who paid a courtesy call on Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City yesterday, allayed fears on the suspension of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) assistance to the Philippines, according to Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II.
Diaz, who attended the meeting between Carlson and Lacson, shared that the US ambassador said the friendship and bond between the two governments will still be there and will not diminish.
It might even increase in terms of support and collaboration, he added.
The USAID assisted the provincial government in the proposed P1.2-billion Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project.
Diaz added that Lacson and Carlson discussed the said project as well as the different water and sanitation projects in the province.
On Monday, Carlson also met with Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Jose Francisco Benitez in Silay City.
Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez said he had an engaging and strategic dialog with Carlson as they reinforced the deep US-Philippines partnership.
“As US-educated leaders, we underscored the importance of regional security, people-to-people ties, and investment opportunities that will drive progress for our province and district,” he added. | GB
