Chile gov't, EDC to rebuild 6 schools in Ormoc, Kananga

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — Chile Ambassador to the Philippines Roberto Mayorga the other day said his government, in partnership with the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) and his country's volunteer group Desafio Levantimos Chile, will be rebuilding six schools in this city and in Kananga town.

Mayorga said the schools to be rebuild will be better than before and four of these will be in Barangays Linao, Dolores, Milagro and Tongonan in Ormoc City, while the other two will be in Brgys. Lim-ao and Tongonan in Kananga.

The ambassador, who preferred his visit here to be low-key, said the Lopez-owned EDC has been a major investor in Chile and his group were in the city to partner with the company for rebuilding Ormoc and Kananga, where EDC's biggest geothermal plants are based.

Mayorga was with the members of the Desafio Levantimos Chile, a group of humanitarian volunteers that included Keko Yunge, a famous singer in Chile, which carried the slogan "Chile Gives Back" in their relief work here in the Philippines.

Yunge and Aaskan Wohlt of Desafio Levantimos Chile said they will not only rebuild the schools but also adopt a long-term program for the benefit of its pupils. "We also take care of the soul. It's going to be a long-term commitment," said Yunge.

Wohlt added that they are now assessing the schools' damages and will be conferring with architects and engineers in their country to design roofs that can withstand wind velocity of more than 300 kilometer per hour.

Wohlt said Desafio Levantinos Chile's track record shows that "we don't just rebuild. We rebuild and make them better than before." The group was in the forefront of rebuilding efforts in Chile itself when an 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit it four years ago. — (FREEMAN)