Zambo, Basilan folks prepare to welcome US troops

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Government officials or ordinary folks, Zamboangueños and Basileños are happy that American soldiers will be coming back for another joint RP-US military exercise scheduled later this month. "We always welcome (United States) presence in Zamboanga City. If they want to stay permanently here, then the better," said Vice Mayor Erbie Fabian, who is also the presiding officer of the city council "The return of US troops will be a blessing to us if they will be assigned to Basilan province because this will mean increased sales of our produce, more farm-to-market road construction and additional livelihood projects to farmers," said Dante Potesta, president of the Isabela City Fisherfolks and Farmers Federation.