U.S. Embassy and USAID officials recently inaugurated a 15.3 km provincial road which was upgraded to improve access for Liguasan Marsh communities. The road upgrade was a collaborative project of the Maguindanao provincial government and USAID-GEM.
 
According to a study by the Institute for Socio-Economic Development Initiatives at Ateneo de Davao University, such USAID road projects linking multiple municipalities bring an average return of 2.74 pesos for every peso invested, in terms of reduced transport and vehicle operation costs, and increases in the net value of agricultural produce due to quicker farm-to-market travel.
 
The Tumbao boat landing on the shore of Lake Buluan was also inaugurated. This is one of the 1,450 community infrastructure projects built with USAID-GEM assistance in Mindanao’s conflict-affected areas. These projects help generate economic activity and support the gains of peace.
 
While in Maguidanao, U.S. officials also met with graduates of the Congressional Internship Program for Young Mindanao Leaders (CIPYML) managed by USAID-GEM in partnership with the Philippines House of Representatives. These graduates, in their own right, now contribute to ARMM development through their chosen fields.