USAID-Phl director visits Tacloban City

CEBU, Philippines – Gloria Steele, mission director of the U.S. Embassy Manila’s United States Agency for International Development, will visit Tacloban City today to lead in the inauguration of projects under the U.S. government’s reconstruction and recovery efforts in typhoon Yolanda-affected areas.

By 1:30 p.m., Steele is scheduled to turnover to the city government and the Department of Education two climate-resilient school buildings at the Tacloban National Agricultural School, a media release from the U.S. Embassy Manila said.

The buildings house ten of the more than 165 classrooms that the U.S. government, through USAID Rebuild, will construct and furnish in Yolanda-affected areas.

Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, Leyte Governor Dominic Petilla, and Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Secretary Panfilo Lacson are expected to attend.

While at the TNAS campus, Steele will also witness the ceremonial harvest of vegetables cultivated by students as part of the hands-on vegetable production training facilitated by USAID Rebuild.

Members of the Barangay Basper Farmers Association, TNAS General Parent-Teacher Association, Tagpuro Women’s Seaweed Association and the Old Kawayan Fisherfolks Association will also be on site to receive production assistance from USAID, which will allow them to engage in climate-adaptive agriculture and aquaculture.

Under USAID Rebuild, the U.S. government is working with the Philippines government to restore access to education and health services, livelihood activities, and provide technical assistance to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery.