VZCZCXRO1159
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHML #1199/01 1560450
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 050450Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4285
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 001199 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL KPAO EAID TP RP
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR UNDERSCORES EDUCATION SUPPORT IN MARAWI CITY 
 
¶1.  Summary.  During a May 27 visit to Marawi City, the Ambassador 
demonstrated continued U.S. support for education development 
programs in a predominantly Muslim area of conflict-affected central 
Mindanao.  She welcomed the start of a new school year by showcasing 
the continued strong education partnerships between the region and 
the United States.  The Ambassador engaged local Marawi officials, 
NGO leaders, and academics on peacemaking and sustainable 
development issues while emphasizing the importance of continued 
support for academic and professional development of youth and 
adults of all ages.  The visit was widely covered by regional media, 
along with some national newspapers.  End summary. 
 
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VISIT TO JSOTF-P EDUCATION PROGRAM STRENGTHENS TIES 
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¶2.  The Ambassador visited a Joint Special Operations Task 
Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) Civil Action Program that is training 40 
teachers from Lanao del Sur province to improve their English-based 
curriculum skills.  The Ambassador noted the importance of giving 
teachers better tools with which to increase their educational 
impact in the classrooms of Central Mindanao, and expressed strong 
U.S. support for the influence of these Education Civil Action 
Programs on hundreds of teachers in the region.  The event served as 
an example of the strong linkage between U.S. and Philippine 
military forces in promoting peace and prosperity in Mindanao 
through education. 
 
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STRENGTHENING EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS 
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¶3.  The Ambassador met with the Mindanao State University (MSU) 
President, University officials, private sector partners, and local 
NGO representatives during a luncheon at the MSU campus to promote 
continued relationships for building quality education partnerships 
in the region.  Mindanao State University has grown into an 
important regional school and, during her visit, the Ambassador 
expressed that the relationship between the University and the 
United States continues to strengthen.  The MSU President expressed 
appreciation for the U.S. government's continued support of the 
University and their continued education partnerships.  In turn, the 
Ambassador commended the University's support for U.S. 
government-funded regional programs and projects which develop the 
professional capabilities and technical expertise of talented local 
Filipino university students to enhance their employment prospects. 
Prior to the luncheon, the Ambassador took the opportunity to stop 
by the American Corner at the MSU library to emphasize the strong 
historic and ongoing relations within the region and the 
University. 
 
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TRAINING PROJECT ENHANCES EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS 
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¶4.  The Ambassador participated in the launch of the U.S. Agency for 
International Development's (USAID) Job-Enabling English Proficiency 
Project whereby talented MSU students are offered English language 
training in preparation for competitive positions in various 
technical employment sectors.  Representatives of the six pilot 
partner colleges were present and expressed gratitude to the U.S. 
government as well as great excitement for the increased 
employability of their students.  The Ambassador addressed a very 
enthusiastic university and media audience, and she remarked on the 
importance of utilizing these new resources for the increased 
educational and professional development of schoolchildren, 
out-of-school youth, and adults.  She encouraged students to take 
advantage of the unique opportunity provided by the English 
Proficiency Project to build their language skills, assist their 
career development, and ultimately realize their fullest potential. 
 
 
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EXPANDING SCHOOL LIBRARIES 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5.  The Ambassador also witnessed a book distribution of 36,000 
books to 50 school libraries in Mindanao.  Through an ongoing 
partnership between USAID, the Philippine Government, and the 
Children International Foundation, education matching grants are 
awarded to Parent-Teacher-Community Associations.  Each of the 50 
schools involved will receive 700 books.  In her remarks during the 
visit, the Ambassador cited literacy programs and other education 
initiatives as vehicles for mobilizing local support, in partnership 
with the U.S. government, to strengthen educational capacity in the 
conflict-affected region.  Her inspirational message to the 
students, whom she called tomorrow's leaders, urged them to continue 
taking advantage of educational resources.  Representatives of MSU 
expressed gratitude for the partnership between the U.S. and the 
Philippines as an ongoing commitment to ensuring the prosperity of 
Mindanao's students. 
 
MANILA 00001199  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
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INCREASED TRAINING IN COMPUTER LITERACY 
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¶6.  The Ambassador met with the Philippine Muslim Women Council 
(PMWC) to sign a deed of donation for USAID's turnover of several 
computers and computer equipment.  As part of the PMWC Information 
Technology for Livelihood and Peace Promotion program, the Council 
will use the computers to train out-of-school youth and adults on 
basic computer literacy and computer repair.  The computer donation 
demonstrated the U.S. government's role in the peacemaking process 
and sustainable development of Mindanao.  The Ambassador highlighted 
the importance of professional development across all ages.  Her 
signing of the deed served as a symbolic representation of the 
importance of computer literacy in what she noted as an 
"increasingly interconnected world", while the  delivery of the 
equipment through JSOTF-P represented the strength of 
U.S.-Philippine civil-military relations and the high level of 
cooperation between our two governments. 
 
KENNEY