Anne visits disaster area

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – Princess Anne of the United Kingdom visited this city yesterday to meet with Leyte Gov. Dominic Petilla, Ormoc City Mayor Edward Codilla and several other town mayors to discuss the projects of UK-based international humanitarian organization Save the Children, which has been providing relief and assistance since the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

Petilla said as governor, he was honored that the princess is visiting Leyte, putting the province again in the map of humanitarian efforts.

Mayors present included Codilla and his vice mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin Jr., Michael Torrevillas of Matag-ob, Antonio Martinez of Merida, Jorge Veloso of Villaba and Federico Carolino of Capoocan.

Anne was also met by Ormoc Villa Hotel manager Teresa Larrazabal Sabarre and daughter Andrea Gica, as protocol dictates.

After touching down at the Ormoc airport at around 10:30 a.m. yesterday, Anne immediately proceeded to Barangay Tagaytay in Kananga, Leyte to visit the site where 81 houses funded by Save the Children had been constructed.

Kananga Mayor Elmer Codilla said the princess went inside two houses and interacted with beneficiaries of the housing project. She even inspected the lavatories of the houses, he said.

The mayor added that the princess was interested in seeing the well where people normally get their water but she was dissuaded from doing so because the area was downhill and steep.

According to reports, before checking in at the hotel, Anne visited the Save the Children office here to speak with its personnel.

Anne interacted particularly with staff members who were with the humanitarian group since they first arrived in the city some days immediately after Yolanda struck the region, a source told The STAR.

The princess went to Kananga, Leyte to visit school buildings in Barangay Naghalin which Save the Children had repaired.