USAID turns over school bldg, grains warehouse

CEBU, Philippines - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) yesterday turned over a four-classroom building and a grains warehouse-solar dryer facility to Tacloban, as part of its $143-million rebuild projects in Yolanda-devastated areas in Region 8.

USAID Chief Financial Officer Reginald Mitchell, with Mayor Alfred Romualdez and Department of Education-8 Regional Director Luisa Yu, led the inauguration of the newly built school building to the Tacloban City National High School, under its principal Maricar Umacob.

Later in the day, USAID turned over the newly constructed grains warehouse and solar dryer facility at Barangay Tagpuro, this city, for the benefit of the Association of Tagpuro Farmers United for Progress, consisting of 120 rice and vegetable farmers.

These structures in Tagpuro were two of the more than 30 agri-fishery support facilities constructed by the USAID to support farmers and fisherfolk, affected by Yolanda. Other facilities, such as trading centers, warehouses, dryers and irrigation systems, are now being constructed across Leyte province.

The turned over classrooms, on the other hand, were part of the more than 250 structures being constructed by the US government, through USAID, in its rebuilding project to restore normalcy in education in the Yolanda-hit areas in Region 8.

The USAID are now also constructing 12 health centers to ensure that Yolanda victims will have access to quality health services.

Mitchell, in his message, was pleased to see the city’s restoration from its devastation, with the help of various donors from around the world. Citing the determination of Leyteños to rebuild their lives, Mitchell said the US government will continue to support all programs restoring development in the country.

“Despite the hardship, there is always an opportunity for the people of Leyte to grow and have a better life,” Mitchell told the crowd during the turnover ceremonies.

Romualdez, for his part, said he could not ask for more, with the sincerity of the US government’s help and concern to help Tacloban recover from the catastrophe. (FREEMAN)