(Eagle News) — The United States government will be providing P1.35 billion ($25 million) for the Marawi rehabilitation for the next three years as part of its aid program to the Philippines.
US Ambassador Kim Sung recently announced this on his visit to Marawi City.
The aid project is called the Marawi Response Project, a three-year U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) program designed to improve economic and social conditions of communities directly affected by the Marawi Siege.
“The U.S. government shares the concern of the Philippine government for ongoing economic, social, health, and education needs of the people of Marawi and neighboring municipalities,” Ambassador Kim said in a statement.
The ambassador recently visited Marawi City where he met with Lanao del Sur Governor Bedjoria Soraya Alonto Adiong, Vice Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong, Jr., Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra, and Brig. Gen. Ramiro Rey, Commander of Joint Task Force Ranao. At Camp Ranao, Ambassador Kim laid a wreath at a memorial for soldiers killed in action during the Marawi Siege, a news release from the US embassy said.
He announced the the additional USAID assistance at Amai Pakpak Elementary School.
Through the Marawi Response Project, the U.S. government will expand livelihood activities and help restart local businesses in and around Marawi. The project will offer micro grants to displaced and host communities to help address short-term needs, support employment readiness among youth, and help link youth to Mindanao’s thriving services sector and supply chains.
The Marawi Response Project brings the total USAID funding commitment to the Marawi response to nearly Php3.2 billion ($59.1 million), according to a US embassy release.
The new Marawi Response Project will help build the foundation for the longer-term recovery of displaced communities. “As the situation evolves, so does the nature of our response to the crisis,” said Ambassador Kim.
Ambassador Kim also announced the launch of the Empowering Madrasa Educator 2 program, valued at Php12.7 million ($235,000).
This second iteration of the U.S. Embassy’s successful Empowering Madrasa Educator program will provide intensive long-term training to 175 madrasa educators and 25 madrasa administrators from Marawi, Lanao del Sur, and other Mindanao communities. Through the program, madrasa educators will improve their English proficiency and computer literacy, as well as learn student-centered teaching methods emphasizing critical thinking and creativity, according to the US embassy.
This effort, along with the U.S. Embassy’s training for Mindanaoan public school teachers through American English workshops and online courses, will help educators in Mindanao improve their students’ educational and economic opportunities by enhancing the quality of instruction.
The U.S. government has been a key partner of the Philippine government in the stabilization and recovery of Marawi and surrounding areas.
(with a US embassy release)
