COTABATO CITY—It’s fighting terrorism on all fronts.
The United States government is spending P550 million into a five-year program in the Philippines “to foster an environment that protects youth from extremism and radicalization,” a statement from the US Embassy said.
On Friday, more than 100 young Filipino beneficiaries here finished vocational technical courses, under programs supported by the US Agency for International Development.
USAID Mission Director Dr. Susan Brems said the US government funds the job training course programs under the Mindanao Youth for Development (MyDev) program of the agency.
Dr. Brems said MyDev is being implemented in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System, and the Education Development Center.
City Mayor Cynthia Guiani- Sayadi and Dr. Brems presented the graduates with certificates of completion.
Rizza Mae Farafil, who completed her training course on bread and pastry-making, joins more than 2,600 other graduates from this city under the MyDev program.
“Each of you has the power to promote peace and advance growth in your community. I urge you to take advantage of every opportunity to do so,” Dr. Brems told the graduates, adding: “Your local government, your local business owners, other local organizations, and the USAID are here to help.”
Through the MyDev program, the US government has earmarked P550 million for a five-year program to engage 19,000 Filipino youth in eight conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, she said in a statement.
Farafil said: “As an out-of-school youth, I could not have imagined myself participating in a graduation event like this. Life’s challenges [of] learning something new didn’t come to me early. But because of USAID, opportunities came my way.”
Dr. Brems also participated in a peace-building discussion with women leaders, youth leaders, and officials from Cotabato City’s five barangays.
She commended Guiani-Sayadi and mayors of five neighboring municipalities for “engaging citizens to build good governance in their communities.”
Dr. Brems met the Out-of-School Youth Development Alliance and toured USAID-supported projects.
The five-year project offers opportunities for education, employment, and civic engagement, encouraging an environment that protects youth from extremism and radicalization, the Embassy statement said.
USAID works with the Philippine government to strengthen basic services in Mindanao, protect disenfranchised populations from influence of groups involved in counterproductive activities, and contribute to a more stable, prosperous, and well-governed nation, the statement added.