Tuesday, June 19, 2012
US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas led the opening of Pacific Partnership (PP) 2012 Tuesday in Calbayog City.
Part of the two-month mission of the PP 2012 is the two-week humanitarian and civic assistance mission of US hospital ship USNS Mercy in Samar.
Mercy arrived Monday afternoon in Calbayog and offloaded cargoes to the city pier that will be used for its missions in Catbalogan City and the towns of Silanga, Gandara, Carayman, Veriato, Malaga and San Isidro.
In attendance during the opening of the PP 2012 were Mercy dignitaries headed by Admiral Cecil D. Haney, commander of US Pacific fleet; Japanese carrier Oosumi personnel; Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan; Representative Mel Sarmiento (Western Samar, 1st district); Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino; Lieutenant General Ralph Villanueva, commanding general of the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; and non-government organizations.
The official launching of PP 2012 was held in Northwest Samar State University.
PP 2012, with this year’s theme “Working together towards a better community,” is in partnership with the local government units and congressional districts of Samar and Northern Samar and the City of Calbayog.
Chile, Peru, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, Singapore, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Netherlands also participated in this year’s PP 2012. (Gerwin Babon/Sunnex)
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