Philippine Secretary of Education Florencio Abad receives
U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone at the Department of Education,
Culture and Sports on January 5. The Ambassador, together with senior
officials of the Embassy, the U.S. Agency for International Assistance
and Development (USAID) and the U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer Program,
discussed with Secretary Abad and senior education officials the $33.6-million
Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS)
project sponsored by the USAID. The program addresses the challenges
in Philippine education and the marginalization of disadvantaged groups,
particularly in Mindanao. On implementation, the project is expected
to double its resources through a partnership with Philippine government
agencies and private organizations.
Related links:
Secretary Abad (left) and Education Under Secretary Fe
Hidalgo (partly hidden, second, right) meet (from left:) USAID-Philippines
Director Dr. Michael Yates, U.S. Peace Corps Country Director Bill
Benjamin, USAID Office of Education Chief Dr. Thomas Kral, and U.S.
Embassy Public Affairs Officer Ron Post.
Senior Philippine education department officials who
participated in the discussion included (above, from left:) Under Secretary
Fe Hidalgo, Under Secretary Ramon Bacani, Media Affairs Consultant
Alice Panares, and Assistant Secretary Teodoro Catindig. Dr. Manaros
Boransing (right) of the Office Media Affairs also attended the meeting.
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