US government launches development partnership

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — This city has been selected as one of the partner-cities to take part in the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Cities Development Initiative (CDI).

Yesterday, US Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie Bassett and USAID Mission Director Gloria Steele signed a memorandum of understanding with the Iloilo City government represented by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog. 

This landmark event was also witnessed by Senator Franklin Drilon, Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas, and representatives from the private sector, academia, and civil society organizations.

This new partnership between USAID and Iloilo City aims to address key constraints to economic growth and investment in Iloilo, according to a media release from the US Embassy in Manila.

The CDI with Iloilo will unlock and maximize the city’s growth potential through significant collaboration in areas such as higher education, energy, environment, health systems, and economic growth and investment, it said.

An integral part of the partnership, the USAID’s CDI promotes economic growth in selected cities, such as Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro and Batangas.

The CDI, on the premise that economic growth and job creation are closely linked to urban development, seeks to promote growth in urban centers that have a demonstrated potential to “take off,” thus enabling the Philippines to promote economic growth and disperse economic opportunity in areas outside Metro Manila.

“Iloilo City was selected as one of a small number of cities to become a ‘center of growth’ under the CDI because of its demonstrated economic potential,” said Steele.

The US-Philippines Partnership for Growth (PFG) was launched in November 2011, with the signing of a Statement of Principles by Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario. The Philippines is one of only four countries selected to take part in this White House initiative.

“The PFG brings together 15 federal agencies of the US government to provide a whole range of assistance and non-assistance programs to promote economic growth in the Philippines,” said Bassett.

The CDI launch takes place during “America in 3D” (A3D), the US Embassy’s signature public outreach program that is taking place from March 2 to 4 at SM City Iloilo. 

The A3D event, which features musical and dance performances, samplings of American food, information about applying for visas and studying in the United States, and sports clinics, is aimed at expanding and deepening the relationship between Americans and Filipinos.  (FREEMAN)