GenSan joins USAID’s Cities Development Initiative
SOCCSKSARGEN: GENERAL SANTOS CITY
GENERAL SANTOS (GenSan) City Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Lawrence Hardy II signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Nov. 27 for the city’s inclusion in the agency’s Cities Development Initiative (CDI). Under the program, USAID works with city governments outside Metro Manila for inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth. “Today’s signing demonstrates both parties’ commitment and mutual responsibility to pursue inclusive and resilient economic growth in the city and surrounding localities,” said Mr. Hardy in a statement released yesterday by the US Embassy in Manila. Apart from GenSan’s economy, the CDI will also focus on the improvement of health and education, and strengthen environmental resiliency. “Aside from the benefits of receiving assistance on the most urgent needs of the city, we now have a partner who will provide a progressive perspective to help us achieve inclusive and resilient growth for General Santos City,” Mr. Rivera is quoted in the statement. Other USAID CDI partner cities are Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, and Zamboanga. Meanwhile, Mr. Hardy also signed agreements with three higher education institutions in GenSan and South Cotabato for joint research activities for biodiversity conservation in Mindanao. The USAID official also met with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Regional Protected Area Management Board to identify new ways, including through private sector engagement, to conserve and manage the region’s natural resources. —