PAGADIAN CITY, Philippines —The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines and the Zamboanga del Sur provincial government signed an agreement establishing a Php30.8-million ($500,000) law enforcement training program, demonstrating the United States’s commitment to working with the Philippines to deter terrorist threats against Americans and Filipinos.

Under the agreement, the U.S. Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program will provide permanent and dedicated training facilities in Pagadian City to host recurring specialized training courses for the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“This investment in Pagadian reflects our confidence in the PNP and our conviction that a safer, more capable PNP means a safer Philippines, a safer United States, and a stronger Alliance between our two nations,” said Daniel Art, the U.S. Embassy’s Acting Senior Regional Security Officer.

Since 2006, the United States has facilitated ATA courses for more than 10,000 Filipino law enforcement personnel that helped improve their capabilities to investigate, respond to, and mitigate terrorist threats and incidents.  An estimated 2,000 PNP, as well as other law enforcement personnel, are expected to train at these new facilities in Pagadian every year.

“This partnership will enhance the capabilities of our law enforcers in deterring and preventing acts of terrorism.  It will strengthen the security and stability of our government not only in the province of Zamboanga del Sur but most especially in Mindanao and even the whole country,” said Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Divina Grace Yu.

As the United States and the Philippines also commemorate the 80th anniversary of diplomatic ties, this enhanced partnership will work to secure the two countries’ ties for years to come.