(Photo courtesy of US Embassy in Manila) MANILA - United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn visited Negros Occidental recently to highlight USAID's partnerships for water and economic resilience and launch a technology-based reading program for early-grade learners. In celebration of World Water Day on March 22, Washburn joined National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Roderick M. Planta, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Lacson, Representative Francisco Benitez, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines president Ma. Cecilia Alcantara, and local government officials for a ceremonial tree planting celebrating the first anniversary of the Partnership for Water and Economic Resilience (P4WatER). P4WatER is a four-year watershed conservation project in partnership with Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc. and the Multisectoral Alliance for Development-Negros that works to rehabilitate watershed areas and provide sustainable livelihood to rice and sugar farmers. USAID has also supported the Negros Occidental provincial government in developing its first water security plan. "When we protect forests, watersheds, and water resources, we also protect communities from climate risks, and more importantly, we provide them with the means to recover and rebuild their lives from the negative impacts of climate change," Washburn said. USAID, through its flagship ABC+: Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines project, also launched the Beginning Reading Program, a technology-based learning program that uses low-cost electronic tablets called Learn Kernels to help children in Kindergarten to Grade 3 learn to read. In partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and American company Learn Kernel Corp., USAID turned over 300 Learn Kernels preloaded with USAID-developed early grade reading materials in various mother tongue languages. These electronic tablets, which can be used without Wi-Fi, will help children access education, regardless of their location and connectivity. "Reading is a fundamental tool for thinking and learning, which has an integrated and cumulative effect on comprehension in all subject areas," Washburn said. "The goal of this program is to ensure that no child is left behind in learning." He also read a USAID-developed storybook to local children and handed over Hiligaynon and Sinugbuanong Binisaya language reading materials to Lacson and DepEd Region 6 Assistant Director Pedro Escobarte. Since the pandemic began, USAID has provided nearly 1.5 million early grade reading materials in these mother tongue languages to students in Western Visayas. (PR) }