Speeches Shim
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.
Through USAID-STRIDE, we worked with 25 U.S. universities to provide technical assistance to Philippine institutions. Working with the excellent talent in here, we have successfully set up Career Centers, Professional Science Masters Programs, Knowledge and Technology Transfer Offices, and strengthened collaboration between government, industry and academia.
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.
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.
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.
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