U.S. Task Force Mindanao Meets the Mindanao River Basin Rehabilitation and Development Task Force

By Lt. Col. Michelle Dietrich, JSOTF-P Public Affairs.

U.S. Task Force Mindanao (TFM) Commander Major Phillip Brown and TF Mindanao CAT-A personnel met the Presidential Task Force on Mindanao River Basin Rehabilitation and Development (PTF MRBRD) on 9 February 2011, 09:00 AM held at the Rio Grande de Mindanao Conference Hall, NEDA XII Building, ARMM Compound, Cotabato City.

Joining PTF MRBRD Chairperson, Cotabato Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI, DD, were the 6^th Infantry Division Philippine Army Commanding General Anthony Alcantara, North Cotabato Provincial Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño Mendoza; DPWH Undersecretary for Mindanao Romeo S. Momo; and, Mr. Nathaniel Campo. Also in attendance were approximately 60 other stakeholders in the multi-faceted  development project.

The Commander was accompanied by members of Task Force Mindanao, namely: Civil Affairs Team Leader Lieutenant Colonel Ed Oliveros; and Task Force Engineer Lieutenant Gabriel Miritello.

The PTF MRBRD is tasked to coordinate the implementation of the Rehabilitation and Long-Term Development Plan for the Mindanao River Basin.  It was formed in 2008 after Typhoon Frank caused extensive flooding accounting for more than a billion pesos worth of damage to infrastructure, livestock, and agriculture.  Attending the meeting provided Task Force Mindanao the opportunity to determine potential support relationships critical in completing a large scale development project. The potential positive impacts of completing the MRBRD are significant, and present a real opportunity to stabilize the physical infrastructure within Mindanao.

Task Force Mindanao and its higher headquarters, Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines (JSOTF-P) works together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to fight terrorism, support its Internal Peace and Security Plan, and deliver humanitarian assistance to the people of Mindanao at the request of the Philippine Government.