USAID official visits Bohol

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) General Counsel John Simpkins visited the province of Bohol last month to renew the U.S. government’s commitment to the province’s inclusive and sustainable development.

Simpkins joined Bohol officials, led by Governor Edgar Chatto and Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II, to launch the Stakeholders’ Forum, which was organized by USAID through its Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) project.

SURGE is the flagship activity of USAID’s Cities Development Initiative (CDI), which aims to transform secondary cities into engines of growth. Tagbilaran is one of the CDI partner cities, together with Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa and Zamboanga.

Launched in 2015, SURGE supports these cities to become economically thriving and resilient growth centers outside the urban core of Manila, with increased levels of investment, employment and disaster risk preparedness for the city and adjacent rural areas.

Simpkins also visited Tagbilaran City Elementary School, where he handed out learning materials to Grade 2 students and led a reading activity for the children. Through its basic education program, Basa Pilipinas, USAID is working to improve the reading skills of one million early grade students by strengthening reading instruction for teachers and increasing access to quality reading materials.

Capping Simpkin’s trip was a meeting with local stakeholders to discuss maritime law implementation in Danajon Reef at the Balicasag Marine Protected Area. USAID, through its Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries activity, supports the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Bohol Province to protect its coastal and marine resources.

USAID General Counsel John Simpkins turned over teaching and learning materials at the Tagbilaran City Central Elementary School and led a read along with the school’s Grade 2 students.