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Thursday, January 14, 2021 - 2:30am

The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO) program, has awarded grants worth nearly Php42 million ($890,000) to five organizations in support of local solutions that address ocean plastics pollution.

A staggering 2.7 million tons of plastic are generated in the Philippines each year, 20 percent of which is estimated to end up in the ocean, according to a 2015 McKinsey and Company study. Through these grants, USAID will partner with local and international organizations to test new models to increase recycling rates, reduce landfill waste and leakage into nearby waters, and improve community livelihoods to help build sustainable waste systems.

“The United States is a committed ally and partner of the Filipino people in protecting the country's rich marine ecosystems and resources for the benefit of present and future generations,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law.

The first wave of grants will pilot solutions to stop the flow of plastic pollution to the waters within and surrounding the Philippines. Program grantees are:

U.S. Government Promotes Sustainable Natural Resource Management in Coron, Palawan
Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - 3:30am

The Calamianes Resilience Network, with the support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Calamianes Marine Protected Area Network, hosted the first environmental law enforcement summit in Coron, Palawan from October 10 to 11. The summit drew more than 100 representatives from the national and local governments, civil society organizations, and local communities who gathered to find solutions to improving local government authorities, enforcement agencies, and communities’ cooperation to address illegal fishing, mining, quarrying, logging, and wildlife trafficking.

U.S. Government Launches New Literacy Program for Blind, Deaf Children
Thursday, September 12, 2019 - 4:00am

The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched a three-year, Php92.3 million project that will enable visually and hearing impaired children, including those who are deaf, blind and deaf-blind, to gain access to quality education.

New U.S. and Philippines Partnership to Boost Reading, Numeracy, and Socio-Emotional Learning for Filipino Students
Wednesday, July 31, 2019 - 9:30pm

As part of its continuing commitment to improve education outcomes for Filipino youth, the U.S. government today launched the Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines (ABC+) project to support Department of Education (DepEd) efforts to strengthen the quality of education in the Philippines. U.S. Chargé d’Affaires John Law and representatives from DepEd formally led the launch ceremonies.

U.S. Government Announces Additional Php234 Million for Marawi Relief and Recovery
Thursday, July 18, 2019 - 10:30pm

The U.S. government is providing an additional Php234 million ($4.5 million) in humanitarian assistance to bolster relief and recovery efforts for individuals affected by the Marawi conflict.

This new contribution to the Marawi humanitarian response brings the U.S. government’s total commitment to Marawi recovery to more than Php3.4 billion ($63.6 million). The additional funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will help approximately 50,000 internally displaced persons in Marawi and 9,000 in Maguindanao.

U.S. Government Awards Grants to Reduce Plastic Pollution  in Philippine Oceans
Thursday, July 11, 2019 - 3:45am

The U.S. government awarded two grants totaling Php20 million to local organizations for projects to reduce plastic pollution Philippine oceans. The grants will promote and expand community-based recycling programs, improve solid waste management, and support research on plastic waste around Manila Bay. U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Deputy Chief of Mission John Law and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Benny Antiporda presented the grants, joined by DENR Undersecretary Miguel Cuna.

U.S. Government Awards Grants to Marawi’s Displaced Communities
Monday, June 17, 2019 - 3:45am

As part of its commitment to improve economic and social conditions of communities directly affected by the 2017 Marawi siege, the U.S. government awarded 75 micro-grants to communities and business owners displaced from Marawi. U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Mission Director Patrick Wesner and Task Force Bangon Marawi Field Office Manager Assistant Secretary Felix Castro visited Marawi and Iligan on June 11 for the community grants handover events.

U.S. Government and CCAP Partner to Boost Cold Chain Systems in Four Cities
Friday, June 14, 2019 - 2:15am

The U.S. government and the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines (CCAP) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance the cold chain systems in the Philippines on June 7, 2019.

U.S. Government and PBEd Launch Recruitment Drive for Work-Based Training Opportunities for Youth
Friday, May 17, 2019 - 2:00am

The U.S. government and Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) launched YouthWorks PH Recruitment Drive, part of a five-year, Php1.8 billion public-private partnership to provide life skills and employability workshops for at least 20,000 unemployed, out-of-school youth ages 18-24. YouthWorks PH will connect youth to work-based training opportunities.

U.S., Philippines Celebrate Successful Partnership that Expanded Opportunities for 25,000+ Out-of-School Youth
Friday, May 3, 2019 - 1:45am

The U.S. and Philippine governments celebrated the successful conclusion of the six-year, Php832-million Mindanao Youth for Development (MYDev) project. The partnership between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Education (DepEd), and 11 local government units across Mindanao expanded access to education, provided life skills training, and provided employment opportunities for more than 25,000 out-of-school youth in Mindanao.

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