The U.S. government’s close partnership with the Philippine government to invest in education has yielded significant success that we should all be proud of. Through our partnership, in the past six years, nearly four million school children now have better literacy and 25,000 vulnerable youth have greater ability to return to school or attain employment.

The U.S. government recognizes plastic pollution as a critical issue. In 2018, President Trump signed the “Save Our Seas Act of 2018,” which encourages U.S. agencies to work with partner countries, including the Philippines, to address land- and sea-based pollution and improve waste management.

Combatting sea-based pollution is a shared priority for all of us. Every year, eight million tons of plastic waste is discarded into the world’s oceans, eventually making its way into the human food supply, particularly through fish products.

It is exciting to be among so many energetic young people who are part of the approximately 50 million Filipinos under the age of 24. This dynamic cohort has the potential to become the country’s next leaders of economic growth, governance, and social development. To unlock the potential of this demographic and maximize the benefits for the country, we need to promote youth’s active participation in the economy and society. This includes expanding their access to education as well as creating greater livelihood and employment opportunities for them.

We started our Local Works journey through a comprehensive listening tour, talking to more than 500 people in 10 regions in the Philippines. . While we are used to engaging with people in the field, the open format allowed us to explore beyond the traditional boundaries of USAID assistance, learn more about challenges, and discover community assets and good local development models.