US donates community medical facility in Tawi-Tawi

DURING a visit to Tawi-Tawi on May 10, US Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Klecheski handed over a Law Enforcement and Community Medical Facility to the Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP MG), the Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Marines in support of the shared US-Philippine goal to strengthen maritime public safety.

The Law Enforcement Center in Taganak, Tawi-Tawi will provide a forward base of operations for the Philippine National Police 1st Maritime Special Operations Unit and the Philippine Marines to secure the Philippines’ southwestern sea border and also provide the in the Turtle Islands. Construc - gan in 2012 and was completed

government (USG) has been engaged in the development of a Spe- cial Operations Unit- Maritime within the PNP MG. The USG has worked to support efforts that strengthen maritime public Since 2008, the USG has donated 10 patrol boats and constructed two PNP Maritime Group headquarters facilities, one at Honda Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

The USG has also constructed outstations at Balabac, Palawan and Taganak, Tawi- Tawi, and a construction at Lantawan, Basilan. In addition, the USG has provided extensive training and equipment to Maritime Group Special Opera- US Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Klecheski (left) with Philippine National Policy Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario tions Unit personnel. The project is - ment of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforce Investigations Training Assistance