CDI Insights: Toward Sustainable and Resilient Futures
USAID Mission Director's visit to Iloilo highlights U.S. commitment to better governance, shared prosperity, and resilience in secondary cities
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Ryan Washburn visited Iloilo Province on April 17-19, 2024, an emerging economic center in the Philippines, as part of the U.S. government's commitment to the country's inclusive and resilient growth.
During his trip, Director Washburn met with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas to reaffirm the U.S. government's dedication to the city's development. He engaged with government and economic leaders from the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council to discuss strategies for inclusive growth. Additionally, he met with residents to gather input on improving government services for a resettlement project, utilizing USAID monitoring tools.
Director Washburn also launched a domestic supply chain for responsibly sourced blue swimming crab in Iloilo City. This initiative aims to connect fisherfolk with local markets, including supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants, to boost livelihood opportunities and promote sustainable fishing practices. He toured other USAID projects and presented Geographic Information System (GIS) workstations to Iloilo City, which will be used for climate mapping and local planning.
USAID remains committed to supporting the Philippines' development goals, aiming for more inclusive economic outcomes and contributing to a free, prosperous, resilient, and secure Indo-Pacific region.
USAID and partners host Urban Climate Change Resilience Conference
In celebration of Earth Day, USAID and Catholic Relief Services, in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Philippines, hosted the Breakthrough Resilience: An Urban Climate Resilience Conference on April 24-25, 2024, in Manila.
Over 200 government officials, climate experts, and representatives from development agencies, civil society, and the academic and private sectors explored innovative solutions and breakthrough strategies for urban resilience against climate change impacts.
The conference also featured the “Innovations for Resilience Challenge awards,” recognizing cities with innovative projects contributing to climate and disaster resilience. The challenge awarded an initial fund of PhP1 million (US$17,530) to winning cities, along with knowledge-sharing sessions and mentorship opportunities.
Two CDI cities have won top spots: the Legazpi City Agriculture Office claimed the first prize for their proposal to organize a Sustainable Agriculture Summit, while the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction Office secured the third prize for their innovative "Salva Vida," a fully integrated computer software system and mobile application.
"In such extraordinary times where weather patterns become so unpredictable, climate resilience efforts need to be innovative and holistic," said Betty Chung, USAID Acting Mission Director.
“USAID is actively supporting the Philippine government’s development agenda to accelerate climate action and disaster resilience.”
The Breakthrough Resilience Conference and the Innovations for Resilience Challenge are part of USAID’s Climate Resilient Cities (CRC) Project, which seeks to improve resilience by strengthening the capacities of cities to adapt to, mitigate, and manage the impacts of climate change.
Click this link to watch the conference.
USAID receives Mayor’s Awards for environmental protection and good governance initiatives
On March 3, 2024, USAID and RTI International’s Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans and Landscape (SIBOL) received the annual Mayor’s Award from the Puerto Princesa City government in recognition of the project’s outstanding contribution to environmental protection. Through SIBOL, USAID helps enhance conservation science, improve economic incentives, and strengthen environmental law enforcement in Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.
SIBOL works closely with DENR, Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development. To date, SIBOL has trained over 4,000 individuals in sustainable landscapes, natural resources management, and biodiversity conservation.
The city government also honored the USAID Cities for Enhanced Governance and Engagement (CHANGE) Project for its pivotal role in establishing and guiding the Puerto Princesa City People's Council, now a vital partner in the city's planning, monitoring, and legislative processes. The award was presented on March 4, in recognition of the project's efforts to enhance citizen participation and empowerment in governance.
The Mayor's Awards are part of the city's Founding Anniversary and Balayong Festival, celebrating the outstanding contributions of individuals, groups, and businesses to the city.
Citizens monitor water quality for better services
Rural water and sanitation providers in Batangas City have encountered challenges in maintaining water quality, efficient operations, and responsiveness to service requests.
To help address these issues, USAID, through CHANGE, organized an activity with the Batangas City People’s Council (BCPC) to assess three city-supervised facilities providing clean water to over 3,200 households. BCPC used CHANGE’s citizen monitoring report card tool and presented their findings and recommendations to Mayor Beverley Rose Dimacuha. In response, the city government committed to adopt BCPC's recommendations and the citizen monitoring report card tool for future monitoring activities.
Since 1984, USAID has been instrumental in establishing and expanding rural water and sanitation associations (RWSAs) in Batangas City, increasing their number from 7 to 76. USAID's ongoing assistance includes facilitating citizen feedback to enhance RWSAs' services. This initiative empowers citizens to monitor water quality and express concerns to local government officials, ensuring better services.
USAID facilitates cross-country collaboration and investment opportunities between Philippines and Taiwan
To strengthen economic ties between the Philippines and Taiwan, around 30 delegates from various sectors, including government bodies, private sector, and academia, representing Cities Development Initiative (CDI) cities General Santos, Iloilo, and Zamboanga embarked on a benchmarking trip to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from March 19-22, 2024.
The visit was organized by USAID, through Urban Connect and RESPOND projects, together with Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association and the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), to highlight investment opportunities for CDI cities and set benchmarks for smart city technologies, focusing on disaster resilience, transportation, urban planning, industrial innovation, and citizen engagement.
Kaohsiung's Deputy Mayor Dr. Charles Lin showed keen interest in strengthening ties between Taiwan and the Philippines, while the Linhai Industrial Park Association discussed potential collaboration on human resource development and trade linkages. The visit also spotlighted Zamboanga's aquamarine processing potential and efforts to modernize agriculture. USAID will continue to collaborate with Edu-Connect and the Manila Economic and Cultural Office for future initiatives promoting economic ties, technological cooperation, and sustainable development.
USAID champions women's roles in inclusive and resilient economic growth
In commemoration of the 2024 Women's Month and to recognize the vital role of women entrepreneurs in driving local economic growth, USAID, through Urban Connect, hosted a webinar titled “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Toward Innovation, Resiliency, and Sustainability” on March 21, 2024.
The webinar drew a diverse audience of more than 116 participants, including representatives from the national and local government and micro, small, and medium enterprises. Speakers from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN), and women entrepreneurs from CDI cities of Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, and Tagbilaran shared their experiences and winning strategies for achieving business resilience, sustainability, and innovation in product development and marketing.
Click this link to watch the webinar.
Urban Connect also supported the first-ever Women in Business Leyte Forum held in Tacloban City on March 25, paving the way for over 100 women entrepreneurs to explore financing options and local technical support programs tailored for women-led businesses. Discussions on digital branding and design also provided valuable insights.
The event was organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tacloban-Leyte Chapter, National Economic and Development Authority, and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
To promote gender equality and social inclusion in local development planning and budgeting, USAID Urban Connect organized the “Cities for All: Championing Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in Local Development Planning and Budgeting,” a virtual collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) session on March 19.
While local government units (LGUs) have made significant strides in mainstreaming gender and development (GAD), challenges persist in effectively aligning initiatives with national guidelines due to capacity constraints and limited resources, which hinder the integration of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) into local policies and programs. Through insights from PCW, the Department of the Interior and Local Government - Bureau of Local Government Development (DILG-BLGD), and main implementers at the local level, the CLA session served as a crucial platform to help address these challenges by providing the LGUs with the necessary knowledge, tools, and best practices to effectively integrate GESI principles.
USAID and partners empower youth to lead productive lives
In Zamboanga, USAID and Philippine Business for Education's YouthWorks PH (YWPH) program is transforming the lives of young people. Over five years, YWPH has brought together government, industry, and academia to provide skills training to youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET), leading to meaningful jobs.
“YouthWorks PH provides opportunities for people who were unable to pursue formal education to succeed in their own way. The skills we learn from training are not far off from what is taught in schools, which enables people like me to apply for jobs alongside college graduates,” said Paulo Francisco, a food processing training graduate who now works for Century Pacific Foods, Inc.
YWPH offers a wider range of courses, including food processing, food and beverage services, bookkeeping, bartending, housekeeping, and heavy equipment operation, all directly addressing the needs identified by local businesses. This ensures that the youth are equipped with skills that are in high demand in the Zamboanga job market.
Local businesses also see the potential and drive of youth NEET. Businesses began looking beyond college degrees, recognizing the value of the skills and eagerness to learn these young people possessed.
“We prioritize employing young people who are dedicated to work, rather than those who simply graduated because they need a job,” said Cacai Wee, an operations officer of Astoria Regency and YWPH’s partner for hospitality training.
By recognizing young people's potential and nurturing their skills, these partnerships empower youth to actively contribute to Zamboanga's growth. Looking ahead, YWPH aims to train 2,000 youth NEET in Zamboanga in 2024.
Public and private sectors collaborate for youth employment and entrepreneurship
In General Santos City, over 80 officials, LGUs, and business leaders from South Cotabato, Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos (SOCCSKSARGEN) Region gathered on January 25, 2024, for an Industry Skills Forum, hosted by USAID Opportunity 2.0, DTI, Public Employment Service Office (PESO), and Philippine Business for Education (PBEd).
Themed "Reimagining the Future of Workforce Development in the New Era of Innovation," the forum tackled green workplace practices, strategies for creative industries, and job opportunities for upskilled out-of-school youth (OSY). Following the event, DTI, PESO, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry offered flagship programs to help OSY start businesses or find jobs. Participants showed interest in joining General Santos Youth Development Alliance meetings to further engage OSY.
O2 supports YDAs in five CDI cities, namely Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Legazpi, Tagbilaran, and Zamboanga, ensuring OSY access learning and earning opportunities.
Legazpi and Tagbilaran out-of-school youth contribute to their communities
OSY in Legazpi and Tagbilaran are making a difference in their communities by joining youth volunteer activities in March.
In Legazpi, over 50 youth collected plastic bottles to create flowerpots for a communal garden. The experience not only provided practical skills but also instilled a sense of environmental stewardship among the youth and a deeper appreciation of the importance of recycling and reducing waste to preserve the environment. In a separate event, six youth leaders joined the Civil Military Operations Board - Bicol to plant trees in commemoration of the 127th anniversary of the Philippine Army.
In Tagbilaran, 20 OSY volunteered to clean the National Museum - Bohol. The youth gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of cultural preservation and the role they play as custodians of their heritage.
These activities, organized by Opportunity 2.0, supports and strengthens existing systems and mechanisms in the Philippines to provide second-chance opportunities to OSY across 15 cities. It aims to improve OSY education, employment, and livelihood outcomes, as well as to positively engage the youth in their communities.
Raising the bar: How local governments transform early grade education
Education is the cornerstone of every Filipino child's journey, charting their path toward a brighter future and their contribution to nation-building. Early grade education serves as the foundation for all future learning. Recognizing this, USAID, through Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines (ABC+), and the Department of Education (DepEd), is collaborating with LGUs, the private sector, and communities to evaluate and enhance basic education, particularly in the early grades.
In Region 6, the Iloilo City government is leading the charge through the Education Sector Mechanism (ESM), a collaborative process empowering local stakeholders to plan and invest in early-grade learning. This has led to proposals and funding of over PhP300 million (US$5.3 million) for four priority programs. Among these is Project JERRY 2.0, which aims to boost reading and math skills for young learners and enhance teacher competency.
In Region 5, the Legazpi City government has completed two cycles of ESM workshops. Plans include expanding infrastructure, enhancing nutrition programs, and strengthening literacy and numeracy skills among teachers.
Currently, 14 LGUs have established ESMs, with five more in progress. Through ESM, LGUs can work together with DepEd and stakeholders to plan evidence-based interventions tailored to their unique challenges in early-grade learning. This empowers local leaders to prioritize education, allocate resources effectively, and drive meaningful improvements in learning outcomes, ensuring a brighter future for all learners.
About this Newsletter
"CDI Insights: Toward Sustainable and Resilient Futures" is a quarterly newsletter curated by USAID Urban Connect, featuring regular updates and compelling stories from CDI partner cities and their adjacent localities in the Philippines. This publication serves as a platform to disseminate opportunities for collaboration and engagement while highlighting the successful initiatives of USAID, with a specific focus on economic growth, governance, health, energy, education, and environmental resilience.
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