USAID SUPPORT. US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim gets a briefing on the various support their government has extended to Iloilo City through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The envoy made a courtesy call before Mayor Jose Espinosa III at the Iloilo City Hall on Thursday (April 19, 2018) . (Photo by Perla Lena)
Mayor Jose Espinosa expressed his gratitude to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for its help to the “development of Iloilo City.
Espinosa welcomed US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim to the Iloilo City Hall Thursday afternoon where the envoy said that he heard about Iloilo City as one of the most successful cities in the Philippines.
Kim said he also learned a lot about the city government’s successful partnership with the USAID.
“In welcoming visitors, we do our homework and we show how thankful we are for their help,” Espinosa said as he presented various projects supported by the US agency that helped this local government unit “attain its status as a tourism destination.”
Among the projects that received USAID support are the crafting of the Iloilo River Development Master Plan, a catalogue project of heritage buildings at the city’s business district (CBD), streamlining of business permits, a water demand management program, and education programs.
Espinosa said the Iloilo River Development Master Plan served as the city’s blueprint in the rehabilitation, improvement and sustainability agenda of the river.
“This master plan came from the apparent need to save the river from further deterioration. It identified development strategies and policies in areas of land use and urban design; socio-economic improvement; infrastructure facilities; environmental protection; and institutional mechanisms,” he said.
The USAID’s Cities Development Initiative made this city a pilot project for the streamlined registration and renewal of business permits.
It was complemented by the Investment Enabling Environment (INVEST) Project that assisted the city in coming up with a business enabling environment.
It’s USAID Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth and Stability (Be Secure) project has resulted in the development of rainwater harvesting facilities in communities, and trained locals for improved water and sanitation practices and on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
The Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development (STRIDE) program awards research grants to major universities in the city.
Moreover, through the USAID Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) project, the city government is working on automating the building and occupancy permitting system.
Last week, the technical working group created for that purpose went on a study tour of Valenzuela City to learn about the processes.
“Their support helps us tremendously,” the mayor said.
He said Iloilo City is currently hosting delegates from General Santos and Cagayan de Oro City who are here to “see how the city government applies new programs under the auspices and help of the USAID.”
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1032649
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