[As Prepared]

[Greetings]

This is my first time to visit Bohol and I am very happy to be here to meet you. I have experienced your genuine warmth and hospitality. I am very impressed with the partnership that USAID has with your local government, particularly the Department of Education (DepEd) Bohol and Tagbilaran City Divisions, and how our work is making an impact.

USAID has been working in the Philippines for over 50 years, and a big part of our assistance is in education because we believe education is crucial for development—both as individuals and for the country as a whole. With education, you can make well informed choices and to receive better opportunities.

The United States government continues to support the Department of Education in our common goal of improving the quality of education in the Philippines, so that young boys and girls like you could go to school and learn skills that will help you succeed in the future.

To help you learn even more, we made and have been giving out books, workbooks, over 370,000 copies—in your native language—such as these here. We also helped train your teachers and school heads so they can better teach young boys and girls like you to read and write.

We would not be able to do this without the help of your teachers and school heads, so let’s say daghang salamat to them, thank you teacher!

One of the reasons why I am here today is give the Department of Education some computer tablets, like these here. This gadget can help your teachers and school heads teach young boys and girls like you so that you will be able to learn more, read fast and write better.

So, please follow your parents and teachers and study hard so you will become successful in the future.

To our partners at DepEd, thank you for reaffirming your commitment to deepen and sustain the gains of our partnership with this initiative. To the school heads and supervisors here with us this morning, we find your openness and enthusiasm to embrace new practices and technology very encouraging. We know that you will seek to maximize the benefits from this new tool. Most importantly, we have full confidence that you will use these materials to motivate and engage young learners in Tagbilaran City and Bohol. We commend you for work, dedication, and commitment.

Daghang salamat! Mabuhay!